beIN SPORTS

By Nick Dorrington (@chewingthecoca)

First came the cheers, then the horns and then the barking dogs. Later, as the population of Santiago poured out onto it streets, there were chants of the 'CHI-CHI-CHI, LE-LE-LE, Viva Chile'. Cars lapped the city, windows open, horns blaring, inhabitants screaming. Chile had done it again. After lifting their first major international trophy on home soil at last year's Copa America they had once again defeated Argentina on penalties to this time lift the Copa America Centenario.

That Chile would go on to win the competition had seemed unlikely after they were comfortably defeated 2-1 by Argentina in their opener and then required a highly debatable late penalty to overcome Bolivia. But they looked more lively in their 4-2 win over Panama and then produced an astonishingly dominant performance to thrash Mexico 7-0 in the quarter-finals. A lightning quick start followed by a solid defensive display in the second-half of their elongated semi-final with Colombia saw them progress with a 2-0 victory.

Just like 12 months earlier, it was Argentina who awaited in Sunday's final. Gerardo Martino's side had impressed in progressing undefeated through the competition, scoring 18 goals while conceding just two, and looked in good shape to end long trophy drought.

The Brazilian referee Heber Lopes seemed keen to make himself the evening's protagonist, showing debatable first-half red cards to Marcelo Diaz of Chile and Marcos Rojo of Argentina while ignoring other more blatant examples of foul play. But even he was unable to completely overshadow what was an absorbing, intense and physical encounter.

It was immediately clear that this would be a closer contest than the group-stage meeting. Chile pressed relentlessly from the off and were sharp in their use of the ball. Lionel Messi always looked capable of creating danger but Chile were largely able to funnel him into cover or away from immediately threatening positions. While their attack never really got going, they matched Argentina in all other areas of the pitch.

Indeed, the final shot count of 18 to 4 suggested dominance that was never really there for Argentina. They failed to press home a solid spell of pressure during the first half and seemed to become ever tenser as the second half wore on. The replacement of Angel Di Maria with defensive midfielder Matias Kranevitter just before the hour mark robbed Messi of one of his attacking collaborators and saw Argentina rely increasingly on his ability to produce something out of nothing. He couldn't and thus the game went to penalties.

There, somewhat cruelly, it was Messi who blazed over in one of Argentina's two misses. Arturo Vidal saw his opening penalty saved, but the remainder of Chile's takers all successfully converted to secure a 4-3 win on penalties that prompted celebrations all across the country. After a few early blips under Juan Antonio Pizzi they now look as strong as ever and well placed to make a real impact at the 2018 World Cup.

For Argentina, it was a third consecutive final defeat and a loss that means they will now go into that tournament having failed to win a major international trophy in 25 years. They seemed to have found solutions to some long-standing issues only to once again fall at the final hurdle. The confidence boost that success in the United States would have provided has been lost and they must now regroup in order to focus on what lies ahead.

The margins were fine but for the second year in a row it is Chile who get to rejoice in victory, while Argentina must once again live with the sadness and despair of defeat.