NEW DELHI: Chile and Peru played out a 0-0 draw in their Group A opener at the Copa America on Friday night in Arlington, Texas. The result also kept Canadian hopes alive in the group.
Chile and Peru have both struggled in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying, with a combined total of just four goals in 12 matches. This lack of offensive prowess was evident in their scoreless draw, according to a report by Reuters.
Alexis Sanchez of Chile missed the best chance of the game in the 16th minute. He failed to convert Victor Davila's low cross from the six-yard box, sending his shot over the crossbar.
Chile displayed more attacking intent but struggled with the final pass in a first half disrupted by injuries. Peru's Luis Advincula left the field in the 35th minute, and Chilean midfielder Diego Valdes was substituted at halftime.
Peru's Miguel Araujo almost scored in the 43rd minute. His well-placed header from Sergio Pena's free kick forced Chile's goalkeeper Claudio Bravo into an acrobatic save.
Peru's striker Gianluca Lapadula created several dangerous moments in the second half but couldn’t significantly challenge Bravo. Lapadula had a promising chance in the 57th minute, but his slip resulted in a weak shot easily saved by Bravo.
In the 79th minute, Lapadula's volley from Pena's corner forced Bravo into another save. The keeper quickly collected the rebound to prevent a second attempt.
Bravo's performance in goal was noteworthy. At 41 years, 2 months, and 16 days, he became the oldest-ever Copa America player. His experience and skill were on full display throughout the match.
The result reflected the offensive struggles faced by both teams and keeps the group stage competitive as the tournament progresses.
