Chile secured a second consecutive Copa America after a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout win at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey against Argentina.
With the match ending 0-0, Juan Antonio Pizzi’s side went on to repeat its shootout heroics of last year’s final against the very same opponents. Chile had to recover from Arturo Vidal’s opening penalty miss, but scored the next three. Lionel Messi and Lucas Biglia missed for Argentina. Francisco Silva slotted home to make it 4-2 and win the 2016 Copa America for Chile.
The final was played at break-neck speed with both sides holding nothing back in their attempts to secure major silverware for their respective nations. It was clear from the off that both Argentina and Chile were very much up for a blood and thunder repeat of last year’s final, which saw Chile secure a 4-1 victory on penalties.
While goals seemed inevitable in the first half – with Argentina and Chile scoring a collective 34 times before the final – the speed and ferocity of the game instead yielded two red cards, with Chile’s Marcelo Diaz shown two yellows for challenges on Lionel Messi in the first 28 minutes, and Argentina defender Marcos Rojo sent off for a dangerous lunge on Arturo Vidal.