Copa America 2015-
Chile 5-0 Bolivia
Arturo Vidal's recent off-field misdemeanor failed to
derail Chile as the Copa America
host charged into the quarterfinals in emphatic fashion, beating
Bolivia 5-0.
The lead-in to Chile's final group fixture was dominated
by Vidal, who made a public apology after his driver's license was revoked for
crashing his car while under the influence of alcohol in Santiago on Tuesday.
However, Chile put the incident aside as it clinched
top spot in Group A ahead of Bolivia courtesy of Charles Aranguiz's brace
in the capital on Friday.
Aranguiz's two-goal haul came either side of Alexis
Sanchez's first-half header - his first goal of the tournament. Gary Medel
and an unfortunate own goal from Ronald Raldes completed the scoring during the
final 11 minutes.
Chile 5-0 Bolivia All Goals Full Match Highlights HD 19.06.2015 (Copa America 2015) by EuroFootballHD
Charles Aranguiz scored twice as hosts
Chile capped a tumultuous week with a quarterfinal-clinching 5-0 defeat of Bolivia
in their final Group A game at the Copa America on Friday.
Shaking off the controversy surrounding midfielder Arturo
Vidal's drunk-driving accident on Wednesday, Jorge Sampaoli's squad produced a
dominant performance to beat the Bolivians at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago.
Alexis Sanchez and Gary Medel also netted for Chile, before
Bolivia captain Ronald Raldes capped a miserable night for his team by scoring
an own goal.
Both teams were assured of progress after Ecuador's defeat of
Mexico earlier on Friday -- but top position in Group A was up for grabs at the
Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos.
There was little doubt about the outcome once Aranguiz had
opened the scoring in the third minute, drilling past goalkeeper Romel Quinonez
after Eduardo Vargas had knocked down Medel's long ball.
Sanchez struck the post in the 20th minute and he did the same
thing with another free-kick 10 minutes later.
However, shortly after Jorge Valdivia had seen penalty claims
waved away, the Arsenal striker got the goal he richly deserved.
Sanchez won possession just inside the Bolivia half in the 37th
minute, advanced and passed to Valdivia, who returned the ball quickly for the
26-year-old to net with a diving header.
It could have been 3-0 soon after when Mauricio Isla set up
Vargas -- but he failed to find the target from 12 yards, then Jean Beausejour
fired powerfully over in the 42nd minute as the hosts finished the half well on
top, to the delight of a vociferous crowd.
Bolivia's only chance of note came in the 49th minute -- but
Marcelo Martins' shot was weakly struck and easily saved by Claudio Bravo.
Chile put the game beyond their opponents in the 66th minute
when Angelo Henriquez crossed for Aranguiz to net his second goal from close
range.
It was 4-0 with 10 minutes remaining when Medel got on the score sheet in style. Played in by an incisive ball from Valdivia, he
controlled the ball with his chest before coolly lobbing over Quinonez.
And Chile were gifted a fifth goal in the 86th minute when
Raldes turned a Henriquez cross from the right into his own net.
They will be back at the same venue on
Wednesday night, when they will take on one of the best third-placed teams.
The win puts Chile atop Group A with
seven points. Bolivia sit in second with four, while Ecuador finished with
three and Mexico, who were eliminated on Friday, sit bottom with just two.
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