News
SUN 14.06.2015
The Copa América is underway, with players from the Liga BBVA and the Liga Adelante featuring in Chile. Saturday’s action saw Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Diego Godín’s Uruguay get their tournament campaigns up and running.
Albiceleste don’t have it all their own way in opener
Argentina arrived at the Copa América surrounded by plenty of expectation after reaching the final of last year’s FIFA World Cup and with Messi in top form. As a result, there was huge anticipation among football lovers the world over as Tata Martino’s men came into their opening match.
And Messi, Javier Mascherano, Nicolás Otamendi and Éver Banega began the competition with a 2-2 draw against Paraguay. Barcelona’s number 10 led his team to a great first-half display, scoring one from the penalty spot as the albiceleste went 2-0 up, but Paraguay produced a comeback after the break to earn a point. Mascherano and Otamendi played the full 90 minutes, while Banega was substituted for Lucas Biglia in the second half.
Hard-fought victory for Uruguay
Another team kicking off their Copa América on Saturday were Uruguay, and Diego Godín, José María Giménez and Christian Stuani’s side had to work hard to secure a 1-0 win over Jamaica, the weakest outfit in Group B.
The Atlético Madrid defensive pairing played the whole of the charrúas’ victory, with Giménez proving a central figure in attack. The 20-year-old provided the assist for team-mate Cristian 'Cebolla' Rodríguez to grab the winning goal and leave the Uruguayans top of the group. Stuani, meanwhile, came on for the final 15 minutes of the clash.
© LALIGA - 2015