Arturo Vidal scored two goals and set up another, but hosts Chile were held to a 3-3 draw by Mexico in a thrilling Copa America match on Monday.
Striker Vicente Matias Vuoso scored twice for Mexico, including the 66th-minute equalizer that frustrated a home crowd, which was also angered by the referee’s decision to disallow two Chile goals on contentious offside calls.
Chile would have progressed to the quarter-finals had they won, but still lead Group A with four points along with Bolivia, who defeated Ecuador 3-2 earlier on Monday. Mexico have two points after two draws, while Ecuador are last with zero points. Chile, seeking their first Copa America title, are ahead of Bolivia on goal difference.
Photo: AP
The top two teams in each of the three groups advance, plus the two best third-place finishers. Chile’s final group match is against Bolivia on Friday, the same day Mexico face Ecuador.
Chile had the better of Mexico, but defensive mistakes and missed opportunities were costly.
“We are improving match after match and we hope to be at 100 percent against Bolivia, then we will think about reaching higher goals,” said Vidal, who already has three goals after two matches. “We improved a lot, created a lot of chances and attacked from both sides, that was important.”
Vuoso opened the scoring with an easy close-range shot after an assist by Juan Medina in the 21st minute, and a minute later Vidal equalized with a firm header from a corner.
Mexico went ahead again with Raul Jimenez’s header in the 29th, right after Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made a brilliant save off another header by Gerardo Flores. Eduardo Vargas tied the game for the second time with a header off a cross by Vidal in the 42nd minute.
Vidal was fouled by Flores inside the area, then converted a 55th-minute penalty to give Chile the advantage before Vuoso equalized on a breakaway, beating Bravo with a single touch inside the box.
Just a minute earlier, Chile playmaker Jorge Valdivia had a goal disallowed after Vidal was ruled offside in a close call, and Alexis Sanchez’s goal in the 80th minute was also called back even though replays showed he was not offside. Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli was furious on the sidelines.
Valdivia had Chile’s best chance to break the deadlock with a right-footed shot that flew just wide of the left post in the 72nd minute.
Mexico played without veteran defender Rafael Marquez, who was injured in their scoreless draw against Bolivia.
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