Chile and Bolivia met in their Copa America Group A clash at the Estadio Nacional on Friday.
Both teams knew going into the match that they had already qualified for the next round of the competition following Ecuador's 2-1 win over Mexico earlier in the day, but both sides were striving to finish top of the group.
Jorge Sampaoli's side put their credentials foward as potential winners of the tournament as they produced a dazzling display to secure a 5-0 hammering of El Verde. Charles Aranguiz scored a brace, while Alexis Sanchez and Gary Medel also got on the scoresheet, and Ronald Raldes scored an own goal to cap off the victory.
Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Copa America Group A clash between Chile and Bolivia.
Following Ecuador's win over Mexico earlier this evening, both of these sides can relax knowing that they have reached the knockout stage of the tournament as both teams have taken four points from their opening two fixtures.
However, both teams will be striving to finish at the top of Group A to give them an easier fixture in the quarter-finals as the winner will face the third-placed team from Group B or C, pending on which group yields the better points tally. Meanwhile, the runner-up from this group will face the runner up from Group C, so there is still plenty to play for at the Estadio Nacional this evening.
Jorge Sampaoli's side have been in decent form in the competition so far, although the manager could concede that his team have not been at their best. Chile struggled to break down Ecuador in the first match until Arturo Vidal scored from the penalty spot and Eduardo Vargas added a late second in a 2-0 win. La Roja were exposed defensively in their second match of the competition against Mexico as they conceded three goals, but had enough firepower to earn a draw from the match. Sampaoli will no doubt want to see an improvement from his team today.
Mauricio Soria will be pleased with what he has seen from his side so far in the tournament. El Verde were solid at the back in their goalless draw against Mexico in their first match, but exploded into life in the attacking third in their second match as they scored 3-0 goals in the first half against Ecuador. However, they did allow Ecuador back into the game in the second half as they managed to hold out for a 3-2, so there is room for improvement from Bolivia tonight.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the host nation.
CHILE STARTING XI: Bravo, Isla, Medel, Jara, Beausejour, Aranguiz, Diaz, Valdivia, Vidal, Sanchez, Vargas
Subs: Albornoz, Silva, Fuenzalida, Pinilla, Garces, Rojas, Fernandez, Pizarro, Gutierrez, Henriquez, Herrera, Mena
Subs: Albornoz, Silva, Fuenzalida, Pinilla, Garces, Rojas, Fernandez, Pizarro, Gutierrez, Henriquez, Herrera, Mena
BOLIVIA STARTING XI: Quinonez, Rodriguez, Raldes, Coimbra, Morales, Pedriel, Chumacero, Veizaga, Smedberg-Dalence, Escobar, Moreno
Subs: Eguino, Pena, Penarrieta, Miranda, Gamarra, M Bejarano, Campos, Suarez,Hurtado, D Bejarano, Zenteno, Lizio
Subs: Eguino, Pena, Penarrieta, Miranda, Gamarra, M Bejarano, Campos, Suarez,Hurtado, D Bejarano, Zenteno, Lizio
The big news from Chile's starting lineup is that Arturo Vidal starts for the host nation despite being involved in car crash just days ago. The 28-year-old escaped punishment despite being under the influence of alcohol, although he was banned from driving. Reports suggested that Sampaoli could drop Vidal this evening, but the Argentine has kept faith with the player in light of his misdemanour.
Chile make one change from their draw against Mexico as Jean Beausejour comes back into the defence to replace Miiko Albornoz. Soria has rung the changes from his side's win over Ecuador as Edemir Rodríguez, Cristhian Coimbra, Pablo Escobar and Walter Veizaga come into the starting lineup at the expense of Miguel Hurtado, Edward Zenteno, Danny Bejarano and Damian Lizio.
The players are making their way out onto the pitch so we should be underway shortly.
The anthems are being sung with much gusto ahead of kickoff in front of a packed crowd at the Estadio Nacional.
KICKOFF! We're underway in the final Group A match
GOAL! Chile 1-0 Bolivia (Aranguiz)
Chile take the lead with their first attack of the game as Medel lifts the ball over the top of the Bolivia defence for the run of Vargas. The striker cannot control the ball in the box, but it rolls back into the path of Aranguiz who slots his effort into the bottom corner. Great start for Sampaoli's men.
Chile look well up for this match as they have come out of the blocks full of energy and are pressing their opponents high up the pitch and with a great deal of determination.
La Roja come close as they work the ball down the left and Sanchez takes possession on the edge of the area. The Arsenal forward takes a touch to get the ball out of his feet and then fires a right-footed strike at goal, but his strike goes wide of the post.
Sanchez is in the action again as receives the ball down the left from Valdivia and tries to pick out the run of Vargas at the back post with a cross, but he overhits his delivery and Quinonez is able to claim with ease.
Chile try to get Sanchez involved in the match again as Beausejour raids down the left and slides a pass to the Arsenal man. He is put under immediate pressure on the edge of the box and tries a neat flick to beat the challenge of Raldes, but he loses possession.
Soria's men have responded to the early pressure from La Roja by attempting to take the pace out of the game. They are working the ball patiently around the back four and in the midfield, but have no presented a threat to the host nation so far.
Chumacero hits a cross deep the back post for Bolivia and Isla is forced to head the ball behind for a corner. From the resulting corner, Raldes rises highest in the box but he cannot get any accuracy on his header as he guides his effort past the post.
A chance to threaten again for Chile as Sanchez is brought down on the edge of the box by Veizaga. The forward will take the set piece himself with a good opportunity to test Quinonez.
OFF THE POST! Sanchez lifts his effort over the wall and curls the ball towards the bottom corner. Quinonez dives to his right and looks to have the post covered as the ball strikes the outside of the frame and goes behind for a goal kick. Close from Sanchez.
Beausejour and Sanchez link up down the left as the forward slides a through-ball behind the Bolivia defence for the left-back, but Raldes does well to read the danger to come across to outmuscle the former Wigan man and clear the danger.
A poor clearance from Morales loops up into the air and falls kindly for Vargas on the edge of the area. He tees up Sanchez who tries to find room for a strike, but can only poke his left-footed shot wide of the target. It's not quite falling for the 26-year-old at the moment.
Chile threaten down the right as Aranguiz lifts the ball into the path of Vargas who makes a run into the box, but his attempted ball across the face of goal is deflected behind for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Sanchez lifts the ball into the box but his cross is cleared as far as Jara, who decides to fire a strike at goal from distance. The defender's shot flies wide of the post without testing Quinonez.
Vidal wins a free kick right on the edge of the box for La Roja as his quick feet prove to be too much for Coimbra to handle. Sanchez will take the set piece, can he find the net this time?
OFF THE POST! Sanchez strikes the post for the second time in the match as he curls his strike over the wall, but his effort clatters off the woodwork and Bolivia manage to hack the ball clear. You cannot come much closer than that without finding the net, as the Arsenal forward's frustrating evening continues.
Valdivia goes down in the box under the challenge of Raldes, but the defender appears to win the ball. The referee is unmoved much to the annoyance of the home crowd, but it appears to be the correct decision.
GOAL! Chile 2-0 Bolivia (Sanchez)
Sanchez finally gets the goal that his fine play in the first half has deserved. He breaks forward with pace after winning the ball in midfield and squares the ball to Valdivia on the edge of the box. The midfielder lifts a cross into the box and the forward dives to make contact with a header that finds the bottom corner. A sensational finish from the 26-year-old.
CHANCE! Chile should be three ahead as Vargas somehow fails to hit the target from six yards out. Isla had done brilliantly down the right as he raided into the box and fired a low ball into the middle of the area, which was dummied by Sanchez into the path of Vargas. The forward had space and time to pick out the corner, but he rolled his effort wide of the post with only Quinonez to beat. He will want to forget that quickly as gets a consolatory pat on the back by Sanchez.
La Roja threaten down the left as Beausejour breaks into the box in the inside channel and shoots towards the top corner, but his effort sails over the crossbar.
There will be one minute of added time.
HALF-TIME: Chile 2-0 Bolivia
Chile hold a comfortable lead at the break thanks to strikes from Charles Aranguiz and Alexis Sanchez. Jorge Sampaoli's side have dominated the game since the third minute when Aranguiz slotted the ball home from close range and Bolivia have been fighting a desperate battle to keep the scoreline down. Sanchez could have scored two goals as he hit the post twice from free kicks before he finally notched his side's second with a diving header, while Eduardo Vargas missed a sitter just before the break.
Bolivia have barely threatened the Chile goal as they have been unable to get a hold of possession for a meaningful period of the game. La Roja's intensity in the opening minutes of the game seemed to catch Soria's men by surprise and they have been struggling to compete ever since. They have to find a response quickly in the second half if they are to get back into the match.
The Chile players have emerged for the start of the second half so we should be underway shortly.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Sampaoli has taken caution with future games in the competition ahead for his side as Sanchez and Vidal are withdrawn at the break and replaced by Matias Fernandez and Angelo Henriquez. Meanwhile, Bolivia have also made two changes as Miranda and Marvin Bejarano replace Rodriguez and Veizaga.
RESTART! We're back underway at the Estadio Nacional.
CHANCE! Bolivia threaten down the left as Moreno carries the ball across the field before lining up a strike with his left foot, but Bravo is down well to his left to make the save. Better intent from Soria's men.
Not one of Quinonez's finest moments as he hits the ball out of play under no pressure giving the host nation a good attacking platform down the right to threaten his goal.
Chile nearly take advantage as Valdivia raids forward and slides a through-ball down the inside right channel for the run of Vargas. Coimbra is ahead of the striker but he slips as he tries to guide the ball out of play and Vargas lofts the ball back into the middle, but there is no red shirt around to tap it home.
La Roja's plan looks quite simple as they are trying to retain possession to ensure they cannot be hit on the break by El Verde. Their passing this evening has been of high quality and there looks to be some heavy-legged Bolivia players out on the pitch at this early stage.
Valdivia plays an incisive pass into the feet of Vargas inside the penalty area, but Raldes and Coimbra both converge on the forward to squeeze him out of the box. The forward tries to work the ball back to Diaz, but La Roja are unable to retain possession.
Bolivia are once again struggling to gain a foothold into this game as their passing in the final third has not been good enough to cut open the defence of La Roja. Something has to change quickly for Soria's side in order for them to avoid defeat.
The host nation work the ball well through the midfield and Valdivia threads the ball through to Aranguiz down the left. The midfielder carves out space to drill a strike at goal, and his effort has plenty of power, but his shot goes just wide of the post. Close from the Internacional man.
SUBSTITUTION: Escobar's night is over as he replaced by Lizio.
YELLOW CARD: Coimbra goes into the book for Bolivia as he comes through the back of Vargas as the striker collected the ball 30 yards from goal.
GOAL! Chile 3-0 Bolivia (Aranguiz)
Aranguiz gets his second goal of the game as he collects Henriquez's ball across the face of goal at the back post and slots it into the net. Fernandez played a sublime through-ball to the forward down the right and the cross from the Manchester United man left Aranguiz with a simple finish at the back post to put the game beyond doubt for Sampaoli's men.
SUBSTITUTION: David Pizarro comes on for Chile for the final 22 minutes to replace Jara, who is sitting on a yellow card from the previous group games.
CHANCE! Henriquez bursts down the right and tries to carve out space for a strike, but Morales does well to hold him. The forward does try to fire the effort through the left-back, only to see his effort blocked. However, the ball rebounds to Vargas on the edge of the box who drills a strike at goal, but Quinonez makes the save.
Fernandez collects the ball down the right and sends a low ball towards the near post, and it falls kindly for Vargas in the penalty area. The forward tries an ambitious overhead kick, and although he makes good contact with the ball, his effort sails well past the post.
Chile work the ball well in the final third as Valdivia slides the ball through for the run of Isla down the right. The full-back takes a touch to get inside the box, but Raldes gets a foot on the ball and allows Morales to clear it down the left. It has been all one-way traffic in the second half.
Moreno makes good headway down the right for Bolivia as he speeds past Beausejour and has Pedriel in support at the back post. The forward tries to fire a low ball across the face of goal for his teammate, but the ball is too close to Bravo who smothers it at his near post.
GOAL! Chile 4-0 Bolivia (Medel)
Chile make it four with an excellent team move which is finished by Medel as he lifts the ball over Quinonez into the net. The move starts with the defender as he finds Fernandez on the edge of the box and continues his run, the midfielder plays the ball back to Valdivia who arcs a pass over the Bolivia backline for Medel. The Inter Milan man latches on to the pass and guides the ball over the keeper to secure his side's comprehensive victory.
The goal from Medel displays Chile's dominance this evening. They have been simply brilliant in the final third with the slickness of their passing and if anything the result doesn't give them enough credit for the quality of their performance.
CHANCE! A long ball over the top falls perfectly into the path of Vargas and he takes the ball in stride into the box. However, the forward tries to take another touch and its poor as it takes it out of his feet, which allows the Bolivia backline to crowd him out and Quinonez is able to gather.
GOAL! Chile 5-0 Bolivia (Raldes OG)
When it's your night things like this happens as Henriquez collects Fernandez's pass down the right and puts a low cross into the box. Raldes tries to clear it with his left foot, but he can only slice the ball over Quinonez and into the back of the net. I don't know how he has quite done that, you could try that 1,000 times and it would not go in. One of the great own goals you will ever see.
Chile are happy to sit on their five-goal lead as they are knocking the ball around at the back to pass the time before the referee blows his whistle.
There will be one minute of added time.
FULL-TIME: Chile 5-0 Bolivia
Chile win Group A in a comprehensive fashion as they hammer Bolivia 5-0 at the Estadio Nacional. Judging off this performance Jorge Sampaoli's men can put themselves down as one of the favourites to win the competition if they can maintain the level of this form. Charles Aranguiz scored a brace with two well-taken goals, while Alexis Sanchez and Gary Medel also got themsevles on the scoresheet, and El Verdes' Ronald Raldes capped the night off for the host nation with a spectacular own goal.
Mauricio Soria's men were never in the game and struggled to cope with the passing moves of La Rojas as their defence was pulled one way then the other time and again. It would have difficult for many good team to cope with Chile this evening, so there is no disgrace in defeat for Bolivia. However, Soria will now have to pick his team up for their quarter-final clash against the runner-up from Group C, which would be any one of four teams, and could even be Brazil. So Soria and his staff have a lot of hard work to do if his side are to progress beyond the last eight.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Be sure to stick with Sports Mole for all of coverage of the rest of the Copa America, but from me, it's goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
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