1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
German coalition collapseDonald TrumpCOP29

Chile defeat Argentina for Copa America victory

July 5, 2015

Chile defeated Argentina on penalties to win their first Copa America. Argentina's defeat marked star footballer Lionel Messi's second loss in a major international final, following last year's World Cup.

https://p.dw.com/p/1Fsqp
Fußball Copa America Chile Argentinien Vargas
Image: AP

Copa America host Chile defeated Argentina on penalties on Saturday at the Estadio Nacional in the country's capital Santiago.

The South American football final moved into penalties after both teams kept a tight defense throughout the first and second half, drawing the game into extra time without a single goal.

Chile then clinched a 4-1 victory on penalties, with Messi scoring the only goal for Argentina.

Finale Copa America
Argentina's defeat marks Messi's second loss at an international finalImage: picture-alliance/dpa

On the Chilean side, Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez made the winning spot-kick, sparking mass celebrations from the nearly 50,000 attendees.

"It is a dream come true. We have worked so hard for this," said Chile star Arturo Vidal.

Chile's victory marked the country's first victory at the Copa America, and they had not made it to a final in 28 years. Chile's best ranking at a World Cup was third-place, when they played host in 1962.

"We talked about it in Brazil that we were going to win the Copa America," Sanchez added, referring to the 2014 World Cup where they made it to the round of 16 before losing to Brazil on penalties.

"This is really a great generation. We deserve this," Sanchez said.

ls/bk (AFP, AP, dpa)