Chile Beat Argentina Yet Again To Win Second Successive Copa America Title

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Lionel Messi sat down on the substitutes bench, tears in his eyes. The wait goes on. He may never now win a trophy with Argentina. And this time, he has to share some of the blame. After Chile won their second successive Copa America title against Argentina, 2-4 post match penalties after a 0-0 after extra time draw.

Messi took Argentina's first penalty in the shoot-out, after Arturo Vidal had missed the opening spot-kick for Chile. He fired right, Bravo went left. But the ball sailed high, over the crossbar and into the stands.

When Claudio Bravo made an excellent save from Lucas Biglia's penalty, the game was up, with Francisco Silva converting Chile's fifth to win the Copa America Centenario, just as they did last year.

Argentina have gone 23 years without a trophy and Messi will have no better chance than he had here to win one. When they head to Russia for the World Cup in 2018 he will be 31.

Chile, meanwhile, waited 99 years to win a Copa America, lifted the trophy in Santiago and now have done it again in New Jersey, in the special 100th year edition of the tournament.

Referee Heber Lopes made himself the star of the show in the first half, showing two red cards which he should have held back on.

Diaz obstructed Messi in the 29th minute, a foul, certainly, but a harsh yellow for just his second offence. For a moment it seemed Lopes had forgotten he booked him in the first half, even though the cards were just 12 minutes apart, but out came the red card and Chilean supporters raged.

But things were levelled up on that front just before half-time. Marcos Rojo took out Vidal with a sliding challenge from behind. It was a yellow card offence but he saw red. Ten men each.

Messi took Argentina's first penalty in the shoot-out, after Arturo Vidal had missed the opening spot-kick for Chile. He fired right, Bravo went left. But the ball sailed high, over the crossbar and into the stands.

When Claudio Bravo made an excellent save from Lucas Biglia's penalty, the game was up, with Francisco Silva converting Chile's fifth to win the Copa America Centenario, just as they did last year.

Argentina have gone 23 years without a trophy and Messi will have no better chance than he had here to win one. When they head to Russia for World Cup 2018 he will be 31.

Congratulations Chile!.