Copa America: Arturo Vidal scores own goal following Eduardo Vargas’ opener but Chile progress

Chile 1-1 Uruguay: Chile progress to Copa America quarter-finals despite Arturo Vidal scores own goal following Eduardo Vargas’ opener

  • Chile’s Arturo Vidal scored an own goal as his side drew 1-1 against Uruguay
  • Eduardo Vargas had put Chile in the lead but they were unable to hold on 
  • Chile are through to the knockout stages and Uruguay will hope to join them

Arturo Vidal put through his own net but Chile still progressed to the quarter-finals of the Copa America following a 1-1 draw with Uruguay. 

Vidal’s error give Uruguay their first goal in five games in a gripping draw.

Eduardo Vargas put Chile ahead in the 26th minute with a fierce angled drive but Luis Suarez pounced on a knock down midway through the second half to pressure Vidal into scoring an own goal.

Arturo Vidal scored an own goal as  his Chile side drew 1-1 with Uruguay in the Copa America

Uruguay star Luis Suarez put Vidal under much  pressure, which led to the own goal

Uruguay star Luis Suarez put Vidal under much  pressure, which led to the own goal

Eduardo Vargas celebrates after his goal, scored in the 26th minute, put Chile in the lead

Eduardo Vargas celebrates after his goal, scored in the 26th minute, put Chile in the lead

Between them, Chile and Uruguay have won three of the last four Copa America tournaments, but both sides have failed to set this tournament alight. 

Uruguay did not get a shot on target in their opening 1-0 loss to Argentina, while Chile scraped a draw with Argentina then laboured to beat Bolivia 1-0. 

Both teams, thankfully, showed a bit more verve on a hot and humid night in central Brazil.

Chile started the better side and went ahead after 26 minutes thanks to Eduardo Vargas. Vargas worked a nice one-two with Ben Brereton before lashing an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

It was Vargas’ 14th goal in the tournament, making him the joint fifth-top goal scorer, only three goals behind the leaders on 17.

MATCH FACTS 

Uruguay: Muslera, Gonzalez (Nandez 46), Giminez, Godin, Vina (Rodriguez 85), Valverde, Vecino (Torreira 81), De La Cruz (Caceres 46), De Arrascaeta (Torres 60), Suarez, Cavani

Subs: Coates, Rodriguez, Campana, Bentancur, Rochet, Ocampo, Candido 

Goal: Vidal 66 (o.g.) 

Booked: Valverde 

Chile: Bravo, Sierralta, Medel, Maripan (Roco 38), Isla, Pulgar, Aranguiz, Vidal (Alarcon 69), Vargas (Meneses 56), Brereton (Arriagada 69)

Subs: Vegas, Arias, Nunez, Castellon, Pinares, Baeza, Galdames, Mora

Goal: Vargas 26

Booked: Sierralta

Vargas managed to find the net with a fierce angled drive but Chile were unable to hold on

Vargas managed to find the net with a fierce angled drive but Chile were unable to hold on 

Uruguay had not scored in their last four games before tonight but they grew as the game went on and got a deserved equaliser midway through the second half.

Matias Vecino nodded a corner into the six-yard box and as Luis Suarez grappled with Vidal the ball was knocked into the roof of the net.

The goal was first given to Suarez but then classed as an own goal and Vidal was replaced moments later after complaining he had been fouled by his former team mate at Barcelona.

Ben Brereton, who was born in England, provided the assist for Vargas' goal in the first half

Ben Brereton, who was born in England, provided the assist for Vargas’ goal in the first half

Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani attempts to get the better of Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo

Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani attempts to get the better of Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo

Lucas Torreira of Uruguay in action while under pressure from Chile's Luciano Arriagada

Lucas Torreira of Uruguay in action while under pressure from Chile’s Luciano Arriagada

There had been some controversy ahead of the game, with Chile admitting some of their players â Vidal was later named as one â breaking the bubble set up to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Uruguay got more on top as the game went on and pushed forward in search of a winner, with Suarez and Edinson Cavani both coming close.

But neither side could get a decisive goal and so Chile move into top spot in Group A with five points from three games, one ahead of Argentina, who play Paraguay later on Monday.

Paraguay have three points from one game, while Uruguay have one and Bolivia are pointless after two. The top four from each five-team group qualify for the quarter-finals.

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