Argentina 3-0 Chile (Sep 5, 2024) Match Analysis

Argentina beat Chile 3-0 on Thursday thanks to second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez and Paulo Dybala, cementing their lead in South American qualifying for the World Cup.

The Copa América winner looked dominant and untroubled in the absence of greats Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María, who was honoured at the Monumental Stadium after his international career.

Argentina opened the scoring three minutes after the break, when Liverpool midfielder Mac Allister fired home a straight shot from Álvarez’s cross. Álvarez himself scored from a long-range shot in the 84th minute.

Substitute Dybala found the net in injury time to give the World Cup winner the victory. That means the World Cup winner has 18 points, five more than number two Uruguay, who host Paraguay on Friday.

Argentina will play Colombia on Tuesday in a rematch of the Copa América final, while Chile will host Bolivia, who defeated Venezuela earlier on Thursday.