Messi and Bravo play, Mascherano sits, as both teams cruise into the quarterfinals
A trio of FC Barcelona stars were once again in action on the same day at the 2016 Copa América.
But this time, instead of going toe-to-toe, as they did on June 6 in Santa Clara, Argentina and Chile, who were last year’s finalists, were playing on opposite sides of the country.
Argentina beat Bolivia, 3–0, at Century Link Field in Seattle, Washington. Lionel Messi did not start, but he came in for Gonzalo Higuaín in the second half and was held scoreless while managing a pair of shots on goal. Javier Mascherano, however, did not play.
Around the same time the Argentina–Bolivia game was kicking off, some 2,800 miles away (4,500km) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chile was putting the finishing touches on their 4–2 win over Panama.
FC Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo played all 90 minutes for Chile and turned in a clean sheet. Bravo made two saves and completed 32 of 35 pass attempts (91%).
Both teams have made it out of Group D and into the quarterfinals.
Argentina, which won Group D with 9 points after going a perfect three-for-three — including a head-to-head win over Chile — will face Group C runners-up Venezuela in the quarterfinals. That game kicks off at 7.00pm ET on June 18 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Chile’s last eight match pits them against Group C winners Mexico, also on June 18. That game will kick off at 10.00pm ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.