(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi took great pride in steering his country to victory in Sunday''s Copa America final against a team he believes to be the best side in the world with the best player in history.
The 4-2 penalty shootout victory was the second in a row for Chile, who also triumphed over world number one Argentina and their lynchpin Lionel Messi after a 0-0 stalemate in last year''s final at home in Santiago. "It''s always very hard to predict when a match is going to be decided by penalty kicks," Pizzi, who took over the fifth-ranked Chileans in January, told reporters. "Both last year and this year we ended up winning, but I think it speaks to the parity between both lineups, both teams and the mutual respect we have for each and surely it will go on that way. "Now we''re going to enjoy ourselves." Pizzi said he was proud of the way his team rose to the occasion to overcome the star-studded Argentine side and Messi, who missed a penalty in the shootout and then announced he was retiring from international football. "Before them today was the number one team in the world, with the best players in the world and the best player in history," he said. Argentina coach Gerardo Martino, whose side failed to end their 23-year title drought in major international competitions, was understandably downbeat but said his team must have the resilience to come back from disappointment. "We really had high hopes but are leaving empty handed," he said. "Regarding today''s match, Argentina should have won in 90 minutes. And should have won in extra time and we were not able to win. "Really, it is not easy to explain, because there are situations we can explain football-wise and other situations that can be explained, if you will, talking about our luck. "Next time ... we have to come and do it. They represent the national team and feel pride in wearing the national jersey and it''s there that they find the will to really foster hope again." The two sides were deadlocked 0-0 after 90 minutes and also after another half an hour of extra time in a match where both teams were reduced to 10 men in the first half. For the second year in a row, therefore, the two teams faced off in shootout to decide who would take the biggest prize in South American soccer. It started well for Argentina when their goalkeeper Sergio Romero got down to block Arturo Vidal''s opening penalty but Messi blasted over and Lucas Biglia''s spot kick was saved by Chilean goalkeeper Bravo Claudio. Substitute Francisco Silva took Chile''s fifth penalty and struck it low and to the right of Romero to give his country their second successive title after winning their first on home soil last year. The tension of the penalty shootout barely made up for a disappointing game with few memorable moments for a sellout 82,000 crowd. The bulk of first half action involved referee Heber Lopes, who sent off Chile''s Marcelo Diaz on 27 minutes for a second crude challenge on Messi, before Argentina''s Marcos Rojo was given a straight red for a rough tackle on Vidal about 15 minutes later. Three others were booked, including Messi for diving, in a first half that had as many cards as shots on goal. The second half provided more of the same and although Chile, who have never beaten Argentina in open play in 26 previous Copa America encounters, at least managed to call Romero into action, neither side created any clear cut chances. The 30 minutes of extra time was not much different, although Vargas came close for Chile and substitute Sergio Aguero had a header tipped over by Bravo. Messi, who surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina''s top scorer in the semi-final against the United States, was heavily marked and had few chances to show his brilliance. The tournament was played in the US for the first time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the inaugural competition and expanded to include six teams from North and Central America along with the 10 from South America.
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