(Sports Focus) Chile win Copa America on penalties

Alexis Sanchez scored the decisive spot-kick as Chile clinched their first Copa America title with a 4-1 penalty shootout victory over Argentina on Saturday.

Sanchez calmly converted with the last kick of the tournament after Gonzalo Higuain hit his attempt over the bar and Ever Banega's shot was saved by Claudio Bravo.

The Albiceleste were left to rue another missed chance to end their 22-year title drought, a year after they lost the World Cup final to Germany in extra-time at Rio's Maracana stadium.

Chile were playing only their fifth Copa America final and their first since 1987. In contrast, Argentina entered the match with 14 Copa America titles and were making their 27th appearance in the tournament decider.

Apart from a brief period late in the match, Argentina's four-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi was largely anonymous in the final, often crowded out by a Chile defence focused on cutting his supply.

Despite some glittering performances in a deeper-lying playmaker role, the Barcelona forward failed to score in the tournament. The 28-year-old's continued lack of silverware at international level will ensure the debate rages on about his place among football's greats.

It was evident from the early minutes of Saturday's encounter that both teams were going to be less adventurous than their previous outings in this competition.

Angel Di Maria had the first clear chance when he dribbled to the edge of the penalty area before firing over the crossbar.

But it was Chile who looked the more likely to score.

Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero made a crucial clearance after Jorge Valdivia opted to pass to Eduardo Vargas instead of taking a shot himself.

Vargas then sliced a long-range attempt wide of the target before Arturo Vidal forced a fine reflex save from Romero.

Argentina suffered a blow on the half-hour mark when Di Maria went off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Against the run of play, it was Lavezzi who arguably had the best of the first-half scoring chances.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward carried the ball to the edge of the box before finding his club colleague Javier Pastore on the left flank.

Pastore then rolled an inviting cross back to Lavezzi who could only hit a tame shot straight at Bravo.

Both teams continued to prioritize defensive cohesion ahead of attacking flair after the interval.

Operating in the right channel, Sanchez was at the heart of most of Chile's attacking moves.

He set up Vidal with successive crosses but the Juventus man was unable to capitalize, heading the first straight at Romero and failing to make clean contact with the second.

Then it was Vargas' turn to finish poorly, directing a weak effort straight to Romero after another Sanchez delivery.

As the clock ticked towards extra-time Argentina sprung to life. The Albiceleste created two chances in as many minutes with forays that were both started by Messi.

First Lavezzi had a goal ruled out for offside after a sublime Messi through ball and the pair again combined a minute later but the former's cross was too heavy for Higuain, who was introduced as a late substitute for the ineffective Sergio Aguero.

Chile regrouped in extra time to again pose the biggest attacking threat.

Marcelo Diaz blasted a shot over the top after some fancy footwork before Sanchez had one of the clearest chances of the night.

The Arsenal forward broke clear on the counterattack after Javier Mascherano failed to control a long clearance, but his shot also sailed over when he had only Romero to beat.

Argentina then had their appeals for a penalty waved away by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan after Lavezzi went down in the area.

Moments later the whistle blew, taking the result into a penalty shootout.

Matias Fernandez, Vidal, Charles Aranguiz and Sanchez all held their nerve by converting their spot kicks, sending the packed crowd at Estadio Nacional into frenzied celebrations. Endi