tearful di maria inspires argentina at copa america
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Tearful Di Maria inspires Argentina at Copa America

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Tearful Di Maria inspires Argentina at Copa America

Argentina's Angel Di Maria (R) controls the ball during their Copa America Centenario match against Chile, in Santa Clara, California, on June 6, 2016
Santa Clara (United States) - Arab Today

A grieving Angel Di Maria was the inspiration as Argentina shrugged off the absence of Lionel Messi to defeat holders Chile 2-1 in their opening Copa America Centenario game here Monday.

Paris Saint-Germain star Di Maria -- reeling from the death of his grandmother only hours earlier -- scored one goal and set up another as the two-time world champions avenged their defeat to Chile in last year's Copa America final.

Di Maria opened the scoring on 51 minutes and emotionally held a T-shirt up to the sky emblazoned with the message: "Grandma, I will miss you so much."

Moments later Di Maria then set up Argentina's second for Ever Banega, to complete a man-of-the-match performance.

"I had to play, I wanted to play, my grandmother was so proud that I played for the national team," Di Maria said during a post-match television interview before breaking down in tears.Gerardo Martino revealed afterwards Di Maria had kept his loss a secret from him.

"I just learned that five minutes ago that his grandmother died," Martino said. "He didn't tell me anything, he was feeling well to play."

Di Maria's virtuoso display secured a deserved three points for Argentina, who will now fancy their chances of topping Group D with games against Panama and Bolivia to come.

Chile substitute Jose Fuenzalida scored an injury time consolation for the holders.

Injured Argentina captain Messi watched from the substitutes' bench at Levi's Stadium after failing to recover in time from a sore back suffered in a friendly win over Honduras last month. 

But the Barcelona superstar's absence was barely noticeable, with Nicolas Gaitan slotting into Argentina's attack and making an instant impression, hitting the woodwork with a header after only two minutes.

 

- Slick counter-attack -Argentina dominated the early exchanges before Chile, fielding the core of their victorious Copa America side, gradually grew into the game. 

Chile came closest to breaking the first half deadlock in the 30th minute, when Alexis Sanchez burst onto a layoff from Arturo Vidal to go in on goal. 

The Arsenal forward picked his spot and shot low but Argentine keeper Sergio Romero was equal to the challenge, saving brilliantly to deny Chile. 

Sanchez drew another save from Romero in a bright Chilean start to the second half but it was Argentina who opened the scoring six minutes after the break. 

A swift counter-attack saw Banega release Di Maria, whose quick low shot flew past Claudio Bravo and into the bottom corner as the Chile goalkeeper struggled to get his body into position.Eight minutes later it was 2-0, Di Maria turning creator this time with a deft pass to Banega whose low shot took a slight deflection off Mauricio Isla to deceive Bravo. 

 

The game continued to have an edge with Di Maria and Gary Medel both receiving yellow cards for an off-the-ball scuffle shortly afterwards.

 

In injury time Fuenzalida grabbed a late consolation with a headed goal from a free-kick but it was too little too late.

 

Chile's Argentina-born coach Juan Antonio Pizzi bemoaned mistakes which cost his team goals.

 

Twice Chile ceded possession cheaply in midfield, leading to Argentina's two goals.

 

"The mistaks were crucial," Pizzi said. "They cost us two goals."

It was Chile's third straight defeat -- but Pizzi was bullish about his team's chances of coming back.

"We believe we're going to get into the next round," he said. "I know we have difficult games ahead of us, but we're going to continue working hard and we have belief to move to the next round."

Source :AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

tearful di maria inspires argentina at copa america tearful di maria inspires argentina at copa america

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

tearful di maria inspires argentina at copa america tearful di maria inspires argentina at copa america

 



GMT 21:16 2016 Monday ,27 June

Zaki Badr discusses cleaning problem in Giza

GMT 21:46 2017 Saturday ,14 January

Turkey arrests 60 businessmen for alleged Gulen ties

GMT 22:38 2017 Friday ,24 March

Abbas meets with Merkel in Berlin

GMT 09:02 2017 Monday ,27 March

Tunisian Premier Concludes Visit to Sudan

GMT 15:54 2017 Friday ,01 September

Attorney General Directs Prosecutors to inspect Prison

GMT 09:22 2017 Sunday ,31 December

HM King condoles with Afghanistan President

GMT 10:12 2016 Wednesday ,06 April

Strong dollar, mild weather shrink H&M profits

GMT 17:03 2016 Saturday ,24 December

7 police killed in attacks in Afghansitan

GMT 13:51 2017 Friday ,17 March

Israel denies Syria shot down a warplane

GMT 04:08 2017 Thursday ,05 January

Carbon tax can fund clean energy transition

GMT 19:27 2016 Wednesday ,14 September

Alstom to go ahead with plans to shut down Belfort plant
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday