It's the classic strategy for taking down a superior team at a major soccer tournament: play for the penalty shootout, and turn the match into a coin flip. For the second straight year, Chile has done it to Argentina at the Copa America final, and for the second straight year, La Roja have walked away with the trophy. They beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties Sunday night after securing yet another goalless draw through 120 minutes.
The result is hardly surprising (although the draw was available at +260 going into the weekend), but the shootout certainly was. It began with Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero making a strong save on Arturo Vidal's opening attempt. Then Lionel Messi stepped up for La Albiceleste, and promptly sent the ball sailing over the crossbar.
Messi's miss took some of the starch out of Argentina (–140 on the moneyline). Their shots became progressively less confident, until Lucas Biglia was stopped by Chile's star netminder, Claudio Bravo. They wouldn't get another chance. Francisco Silva scored on the next attempt to secure the Centenario for Chile (+400).
American Made
Saturday's third-place match in Glendale between the United States and Colombia was more watchable. The USMNT (+185) were the early aggressors, welcoming Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya and Bobby Wood back from their one-game suspensions. However, it was the Cafeteros (+135) scoring in the 31st minute, with Carlos Bacca doing the honors. The US had a number of chances to reply, but nothing materialized, and Colombia took third place with a 1-0 victory.
Fourth place is nothing to be ashamed of for the USMNT and their fans. This was a highly successful Centenario for a program that has been criticized for its performance under head coach Jürgen Klinsmann. USA made it this far in Copa America once before; they lost the third-place match to Colombia in 1995.
Foul Is Fair
Argentina and their supporters won't have many positives to take from Sunday's match. This was more like roller derby than soccer. Chile took advantage of a slow pitch at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, staying close to Argentina and committing 22 fouls to gum up the works. The strategy could have backfired after Marcelo Diaz was sent off in the 28th minute for his second yellow card, but Marcos Rojo would join him 15 minutes later to level the playing field at 10 men apiece.
With the result, Chile's Eduardo Vargas wins the Golden Boot with six goals at the Centenario. Messi finishes one goal back, followed by teammate Gonzalo Higuain with four goals. Clint Dempsey led the United States with three goals. The next Copa America is scheduled for Brazil in 2019; Brazil won each of the other four times they hosted, in 1919, 1922, 1949 and 1989.
*Odds as of June 27, 2016