Neither Chile or Argentina have been able to force a breakthrough in the opening half of the Copa America final in Santiago this evening.

Eduardo Vargas had the first opening of the game when he was afforded space and time to line up a strike outside the box and he drilled his effort inches past the post.

Chile maintained the pressure and Alexis Sanchez raided down the right flank and whipped a low cross into the box which was poorly cleared away by Martin Demichelis. Arturo Vidal picked up the loose ball and fired a volley towards the bottom corner, but Sergio Romero got down well to make the stop.

Argentina had their first opening at goal from a free kick from the right as Lionel Messi whipped in a cross to find Sergio Aguero at the near post, but the striker's effort was comfortably saved by Claudio Bravo.

La Roja had an excellent chance to take the lead when Vargas broke away up the middle of the pitch and coasted past the last defender, only to lose his composure at the vital moment by firing his shot over the bar.

Argentina could have opened the scoring just before the break when Javier Pastore found space down the right and picked out substitute Ezequiel Lavezzi in the middle, but he could only fire his strike straight at Bravo.

Written by
Simon Sinclair