Arturo Vidal on Friday scored a controversial penalty deep into injury time as holders Chile snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Bolivia to keep their Copa America Centenario campaign alive.
Bayern Munich star Vidal struck from the spot in the 10th minute of time added on after a hugely debatable penalty was awarded against Bolivia defender Luis Gutierrez for handball by US referee Jair Marrufo.
TV replays showed Gutierrez had his right arm behind his back to avoid conceding a handball, but Alexis Sanchez’s cross struck him on the shoulder and Marrufo pointed to the spot after the apparent intervention of the linesman.
Photo: AFP
Bolivia’s players surrounded the referee for angry protests, but Marrufo’s decision stood and it was left to Vidal to drive home the penalty.
The result gives Chile hope of reaching the last eight following their opening defeat to Argentina in Group D.
Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi brushed off questions about his team’s fortuitous penalty award, insisting that they had deserved to win.
“We more than deserved to win the game,” Pizzi said. “The game did not go quite as we planned, but we were worthy winners. Sometimes decisions go for you, sometimes against you. They balance out, but we deserved to win.”
Meanwhile, Vidal admitted he doubted whether the penalty should have been given, but claimed it was compensation.
“They missed a clear handball earlier in the game, so it balanced things,” the midfielder said.
Bolivia coach Julio Cesar Baldivieso decried the spot-kick as a “disgrace” and also questioned how match officials had determined that more than eight minutes of added time should be played.
“It is a disgrace what they have done,” he said. “It really hurts to lose that way. I would ask you to analyze the video and tell me where those eight minutes of injury time came from.”
Earlier, a stunning 61st minute free-kick from Kuwait-based playmaker Jhasmani Campos appeared to have grabbed a share of the points for Bolivia at Gillette Stadium after Vidal had given Chile the lead just after halftime.
Bolivia, beaten by Panama in their first match, have zero points from two games.
It looked like being a frustrating evening at Foxborough for Chile, who dominated possession and territory, but were unable to make their advantage count until the referee’s late intervention.
After a scrappy first half, Chile looked to have taken a decisive breakthrough immediately after the restart with Vidal’s goal.
Arsenal star Sanchez dispossessed Juan Carols Arce just outside the Bolivia area and fed Mauricio Pinilla. Pinilla looked up and squared for Vidal who swept in an emphatic finish to make it 1-0 on 46 minutes.
Yet Bolivia got back on level terms after Chile conceded a free-kick from about 25m, which was slightly out to the right.
There appeared to be little danger, but Campos stepped up and produced a spectacular long-range strike that curled late before dipping into the top corner beyond the fingertips of Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
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