Chile v Argentina Live Commentary & Result, 24/03/2016, WC Qualification South America

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	BRA Brazil	18	12	5	1	41	11	+30	41	W D D W W
2	URU Uruguay	18	9	4	5	32	20	+12	31	W D W D L
3	ARG Argentina	18	7	7	4	19	16	+3	28	W D D D L
4	COL Colombia	18	7	6	5	21	19	+2	27	D L D D W
5	PER Peru	18	7	5	6	27	26	+1	26	D D W W W
6	CHI Chile	18	8	2	8	26	27	-1	26	L W L L W
7	PAR Paraguay	18	7	3	8	19	25	-6	24	L W L W L
8	ECU Ecuador	18	6	2	10	26	29	-3	20	L L L L L
9	BOL Bolivia	18	4	2	12	16	38	-22	14	L D W L W
10	VEN Venezuela	18	2	6	10	19	35	-16	12	W D D D L

And that will be that from Santiago, as Argentina claim a 2-1 win to get their qualifying campaign back on track. Gutierrez opened the scoring for Chile, but goals from Di Maria and Mercado did the damage for the visitors - all in the first half. There was not much that la Roja could do in the second period to find a way back into the game. That's all the time we've got, thanks for joining us!

C. Bravo

Yellow Card

Orellana sends that last set-piece right into the arms of Romero, and Bravo, who had gone up for that one, is booked for trying to hurry a restart in play.

N. Otamendi

Yellow Card

Alexis produces a world-class first touch to control a long pass, before he's promptly barged to the turf by Otamendi, who is deservedly booked.

OVER THE TOP! The Arsenal man hitches up his shorts and strikes the set-piece, but it was never coming down. That may be the last chance Chile had to get something out of this game.

FREE-KICK! Chile win a dangerous set-piece after Alexis was clipped on the edge of the area, just before Pinilla had a snap=shot blocked. Argentina thought that Alexis had dived, but the decision stands.

E. Lavezzi

Yellow Card

Lavezzi is the latest player booked for an untidy challenge. The game threatened to boil over once or twice, but generally, the officials have done well to keep a lid on things.

This victory, if Argentina can see it out of course, will draw them level with Chile in the standings on seven points after five matches. At the moment, it's hard to see another goal coming.

Chile have been politely knocking at the door in the second half when they really needed to be banging it down. It's been hard for them to create genuine shooting space in and around the 18-yard area.

Gutierrez plays the ball to Mena, who has Beausejour on the overlap down the left, but plays a fatigued pass that is too close to the defender, and the chance dries up. Less than 10 minutes to go.

E. Lavezzi

Á. Di María

Di Maria has been withdrawn for Lavezzi.

WIDE AGAIN! Chile are nearly picked off on the counter-attack as Di Maria turns on the afterburners on the left flank, but his shot, while well-struck, is lacking accuracy and doesn't trouble Bravo.

OFF THE MARK! Argentina can only clear the ball to the top of the box, where Silva runs onto it and lets fly, but sends it about a foot too wide. Romero looked to have had it covered in any case.

Higuain skips away from trouble and lays the ball off for Di Maria, before continuing his run into the penalty area. However, the PSG winger's cross is too far ahead of any of his teammates.

Some momentum here for Chile almost immediately after the introduction of Pinilla. They win a corner, but it's wasted as Romero is able to pluck Orellana's delivery out of the air at the back post.

A. Fernández

É. Banega

Ever Banega is withdrawn for Agusto Fernandez in another change from Tata Martino.

SIDE LETTING ONLY! A great Chile move sees the ball set up for the substitute Pinilla, who lashes one on goal, but hits the wrong side of the net. Upon replay, he should have struck that on target.

M. Pinilla

B. Rabello

Pizzi makes his final change, and somewhat strangely, it's one of his earlier substitutes who he decides to withdraw. Rabello lasted 48 minutes, and he will jog off to be replaced by Pinilla.

G. Higuaín

S. Agüero

And that will be Aguero's last contribution of this game, as he departs with 23 minutes left. In his place is Higuain, who has been red-hot for Napoli this season, and also scored a cracker the last time Argentina played a World Cup qualifier on Chilean soil, which ended 2-1 to la Albiceleste.

NOT TOO FAR OFF! Aguero nearly comes close to wrapping this one up as he takes aim from about 15 yards out, zipping the ball the wrong side of the post! There's been a few near misses like that in this game!

Alexis can't connect on a pass into the area, and as Romero goes for the goal-kick, there's some words between the Manchester United and Arsenal players. No love lost out there clearly.

There's a host of substitutes warming up on the running track that surrounds the length of this pitch on the touchline side. We should be seeing some changes soon, because it's gone a bit stale out there.

EXCELLENT FROM ORELLANA! A cross was lofted into the wide man in a crowd of players but he creates space for himself with a magnificent turn, before testing Romero with a curling drive!

There hasn't been that one good chance yet in the second period, although the game has lost none of its combativeness out on the pitch. The players are still holding little back from their challenges.

The ball is lasered down the left channel for Di Maria, who hangs a low cross into the path of Aguero at the near post, but the striker is challenged before he can apply the finishing touch.

WIDE OF THE MARK! Beausejour does well to motor down the near side of the box, and hold off Mori, before laying it back to Alexis, who tries a weird scoop shot that heads high and wide.

Chile are just holding onto the ball for a spell as they attempt to build a little momentum. They ended the first half ona positive note, and need to get back to that sort of tempo soon.

Slow beginning to the second half here, with neither side in any hurry to get up to full stride. There's been no additional substitutions after the two enforced ones for la Roja in the first period.

Ramiro Funes Mori

Yellow Card

The Everton defender Mori is also shown a yellow card.

S. Romero

Yellow Card

Early booking here for Romero following a disagreement.

Off we go again.

And that will do it for the first half in Santiago, with Argentina overcoming an early goal to head into the break ahead by a score of 2-1. Gutierrez opened the scoring with a header, but strikes from Di Maria and Mercado, his first senior international goal, completed the turnaround. A lot to play for in this feisty encounter, so do stay tuned.

Rabello is fouled by Rojo, leading to a late free-kick for the home side. Orellana whips it into the danger area, where Gutierrez has an initial shot blocked, before following up with a far more venomous effort, which whistles just over the bar!

This is better from Chile as we approach half-time. They're going from wide to centre at pace once more, although the referee doesn't blow his whistle once again after Gutierrez went down inside the D.

Beausejour links with Alexis down the left-hand side, and tries to beat Mercado to the byline, with the defender getting an interception in. Chile feel that it was a handball, but the referee doesn't agree with them.

Excellent defending from Medel, who is the only man between Aguero and Bravo. The Inter man stands his ground against his one-time Premier League rival, and doesn't let him get shooting space, before Aguero is eventually called for a foul.

Di Maria weighs up his options at the top of the box, cutting onto his left foot and eventually deciding to have a shot, which is blocked. Messi tries to pick up the pieces, but it's cleared.

Alexis has played the entirety of this half without much influence. He's becoming increasingly cut off from the rest of the team as Argentina continue to control the pace of the game.

The crowd are getting a little frustrated here as Chile fail to reestablish control over this match. Argentina are playing conservatively, sometimes working the ball all the way back to Romero.

Messi breaks from a standing position at rapid pace again, and delivers a diagonal ball into the feet of Aguero. The Manchester City striker, however, sees another attempted low cross intercepted.

F. Gutiérrez

Yellow Card

The goalscorer Gutierrez also opens the yellow card count, after taking a piece out of Mercado with a clumsy, high barge. The referee was left with little choice there.

Coming up to the half-hour mark, and we've seen enough action to fill an entire 90 minutes of football. Three goals, two injury-enforced substitutions and some increasingly meaty challenges.

Chile are struggling now, and in truth, they've looked out of their stride since taking the lead. They're back on the ball but aren't finding the gaps out wide that they were at the beginning of the match.

G. Mercado

Goal

MERCADO PUTS ARGENTINA AHEAD! The defender was in the right place to acrobatically finish a delicately clipped cross from Messi to complete a quick turnaround!

Argentina are pressing hard since drawing level, and Chile have not been able to get the ball out of their own half for a few minutes now. Messi is also getting more touches, which is worrying.

B. Rabello

M. Díaz

Diaz is the second Chile player to succumb to injury, an he is replaced by Bryan Rabello.

É. Banega

Assist

Banega probably didn't know too much about that final pass to set up Di Maria's goal, truth be told!

Á. Di María

Goal

BEAUTIFUL STRIKE FROM DI MARIA! Argentina pounce on a failed Chile break, and launch an attack of their own. They hurry a few passes around the 18-yard area, before the ball breaks kindly for Di Maria, who curls in a lovely shot!

Chile are trying a bit too hard to force the issue now, with some passes going astray in the opposition half. Still, they will be very pleased with how this game has gone for them so far.

Chile have a second injury here to contend with, as Diaz pulls up when chasing Rojo and the ball. The referee stops the game, to the frustration of Argentina, who wanted the advantage played given that it was not a head injury or a foul.

Aguero gets his second opportunity of the night to have a run down the left-hand side. He delays his move, waiting for support, which arrives with company in the form of the Chile defence. His stabbed pass infield is cleared away.

Well, just when it seemed like Messi and Argentina were beginning to get into stride, Chile punish their disorganisation at the back to open the scoring here. You have to say that it's deserved.

OVER THE BAR! Messi gets his first touch of the night and it kick-starts a storming run that takes him half the length of the pitch, before he fires a ball into Di Maria, who shifts onto his right foot but can't keep it down!

F. Gutiérrez

Goal

INTO THE BACK OF THE NET FOR THE CHILE LEAD! From a corner, Argentina switch off with their marking, and Gutierrez beats Biglia to the ball, heading it home!

F. Orellana

Assist

Orellana was the man who launched that corner into the danger zone.

First shot in anger here as the substitute Silva has a go from a long way out, but Romero gets down to make a save. Worth a try, but the keeper was not likely to be beaten from that distance.

We haven't really seen anything in Argentina in attack yet, with Chile playing with a lot of pace on the break. The flanks especially look a good source of opportunity for the hosts.

F. Silva

M. Fernández

Fernandez tried to walk off the injury, but he's out of luck here, and it appears thath is night will end early. He goes off shaking his head, and on comes Silva in his place.

Isla leads the charge for Chile on the counterattack, and he has Mena in support on the far side. However, his ball over the top is hit too hard and to late, as it sails over the head of his teammate, who was offside anyway.

Early problem here for Fernandez, who is carted off to the sidelines after sustaining a knock. The game is paused for a brief moment as the mobile stretcher makes its way on and off the field.

Off we go!

Before we kick off, there will be a moment of silence for those killed and injured in the tragic attacks in Brussels.

Ezequiel Lavezzi is the man to make way in the starting XI for the return of Messi. He's on the right side of a front three that also includes Sergio Aguero and Angel di Maria. Matias Kranevitter also continues his fledgling Argentina career, with Javier Mascherano not in the international squad this time around.

Mati Fernandez, Fabian Orellana and Jean Beausejour return to the Chile starting lineup, and they will form an attacking midfield trio behind Alexis Sanchez, who leads the line for the hosts. Felipe Gutierrez also comes in for veteran Mark Gonzalez. Claudio Bravo also starts for his 100th cap.

Argentina (4-3-3): Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Mori, Rojo; Biglia, Kranevitter, Banega; Messi, Aguero, Di Maria.

Chile (4-2-3-1): Bravo; Isla, Medel, Jara, Mena; Diaz, Gutierrez; Orellana, Fernandez, Beausejour; Alexis.

Argentina will also be looking for revenge after they lost the Copa final 4-1 on penalties, following a goalless encounter. You have to go back eight years to 2008 to find the last time that la Roja beat la Albiceleste in regulation, with a 1-0 triumph at tonight's venue. Since then, the two-time World Cup champs have won twice.

Argentina have fared worse in their Conmebol campaign so far, taking only four points from as many games - although they were without the services of Lionel Messi during that entire span after his knee injury. The skipper is back with us tonight as the Copa America and World Cup runners up look to kick-start their bid to reach Russia 2018.

Chile begin the Juan Antonio Pizzi era tonight, with the former Leon boss replacing Jorge Sampaoli in January, who won the Copa last summer. Since winning their opening two qualifiers against Brazil and Peru, la Roja have taken only one point from their last two games, drawing against Colombia and falling to Uruguay in November.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Conmebol World Cup qualifier between Chile and Argentina. It's a rematch of last summer's Copa America final, with the winners playing host to the Albiceleste here in Santiago. Stick with us for all the action.

Chile v Argentina Live Commentary, 24/03/2016

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