Sanchez double leads Chile into Copa America quarters

Sanchez double leads Chile into Copa America quarters

BeSoccer 9 years ago 1.3k |

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Chiles Alexis Sanchez (L) celebrates with teammate Eduardo Vargas after scoring against Panama during their Copa America Centenario match, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 14, 2016

Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas both scored twice as Chile advanced to the quarter-finals of the Copa America Centenario on Tuesday with a 4-2 victory over Panama.

The defending Copa America champions responded to the shock of falling behind to a Miguel Camargo goal after only five minutes with two goals by Vargas before Arsenal star Sanchez grabbed a third in their Group D game.

Sanchez added his second in the 89th minute to complete the scoring.

The Chileans will almost certainly meet Group C winners Mexico in the quarter-finals on Saturday, barring a miraculous result in Tuesday's other match between Argentina and Bolivia.

Tournament favorites Argentina would need to suffer a heavy defeat by four or more goals to avoid qualifying as winners of Group D.

Chile meanwhile will advance to the quarter-finals still searching for their best form after twice conceding against modest opponents who were thumped 5-0 by Argentina in their previous outing.

The Chileans were given a scare early on when Camargo gave the Panamanians an early lead. Chile defender Gonzalo Jara was the culprit, giving away possession with a lazy pass out of defense that allowed Panama to pounce.

The ball arrived at Camargo's feet and the midfielder let fly with a venomous low shot which Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo failed to grasp to leave Panama 1-0 up.

Chile hit back quickly however, leveling through Vargas, who tapped in from close range after Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo could only half block a Sanchez shot.

Gary Medel should have headed Chile into the lead on 38 minutes, stealing in unmarked at the back post but heading over from a Sanchez corner.

Yet two minutes before the break, Chile took the lead, Vargas heading in a cross from the left for 2-1.

Five minutes into the second half, it was 3-1. Vargas picked out Sanchez with a lofted pass from one side of the penalty area to the other and the Arsenal star showed great technique to lash a first-time volley into the roof of the net.

Chile were jolted by a second Panama goal on 75 minutes, when Abdiel Arroyo headed in a free-kick from Ricardo Buitrago to make it 3-2 but finished on top to seal the win when Sanchez added his second.