Lautaro Martínez scored from a rebound in the 88th minute, giving defending champion Argentina and Lionel Messi a 1-0 victory over Chile on Tuesday night that guaranteed a berth in the Copa America quarter-finals.
Messi’s corner led to a shot that was blocked by Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, and Martínez was on hand to score his second goal of the tournament from Argentina’s 21st shot of the match. Players stood and waited for three minutes while the goal, Martínez’s 26th for his country, was confirmed by video review.
Playing a day after his 37th birthday, Messi frequently flaunted his talent as he slalomed through defenders before an adoring sellout crowd of 81,106 at MetLife Stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup final. Argentina had 21 shots to Chile’s three and Chile didn’t have their first attempt on goal until the 72nd minute.
Messi came the closest to scoring before Martínez’s goal with a 30-yard shot that glanced off the post in the 36th minute. Messi had received treatment on his right thigh for nearly two minutes after getting kicked by Gabriel Suazo in the 24th. Nicolás González’s shot from another Messi pass in the 62nd was parried off the crossbar by Bravo.
Chile had a dangerous spell towards the end of the match. Rodrigo Echeverría’s 72nd-minute effort was saved by Emiliano Martínez, and the goalkeeper was forced into a diving save from Echeverría’s shot in the 76th.
On the 46th anniversary of Argentina winning their first World Cup, the teams returned to the stadium where Chile beat Argentina on penalties in the 2016 Copa América final. That defeat prompted Messi to announce his international retirement only to reverse his decision seven weeks later.
The vast majority of the fans at MetLife on Tuesday wore Argentina jerseys, most with Messi’s name and No 10.
In Tuesday’s other match, Jonathan David scored in the 74th minute, and Canada beat Peru 1-0 for their first victory over a South American opponent in 24 years.
Peru were the better team until they were forced to play a man short after Miguel Araujo was given a red card in the 59th minute for a studs-up tackle on Jacob Shaffelburg.
It was Canada’s first win in four matches under Jesse Marsch, the American hired as coach last month, and they beat a South American team for the first time since a 2-0 victory over Colombia in the 2000 Gold Cup final.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Marsch said his side “talked about wanting to make a big statement, wanting to make history, and wanting to show we were ready for bigger challenges”.
He continued: “In the end, with the savviness of Peru, with the experience of Peru, to manage all of the game appropriately and keep our discipline and not cross the line, not put ourselves in jeopardy of bad cards and fouls, that showed a level of maturity. I’m really pleased for them. I’m really proud of them.”
David’s goal, his 27th for Canada, ended the national team’s 391-minute scoreless streak. Twenty-six of his goals have come in competitive matches.
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The game was paused in first-half stoppage time when an assistant referee running the line on the non-shaded part of the stadium collapsed and needed medical attention. The game was played in sweltering heat in Kansas City, with the temperature peaking at 32C (90F).
Canada, in their first Copa América, rebounded from an opening 2-0 loss to Argentina, and Peru began with a 0-0 draw against Chile.
David scored from a Shaffelburg cross. David took two touches and beat goalkeeper Pedro Gallese from near the penalty spot, sending the ball in off the far post. Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau made a diving save in second-half stoppage time, then punched away a free kick.
“In the first half, we challenged Canada more than Argentina challenged them [in the tournament opener],” said Peru coach Jorge Fossati. “And I am talking about Argentina, the current world champions. We created greater opportunities more than we created against Chile. I think I am fair to say that we created a great 60-minute match.”
Argentina lead Group A with six points, followed by Canada with three, and Chile and Peru with one each. The Albiceleste finish the first round against Peru at Miami Gardens on Saturday, while Canada meet Chile in Orlando.
