Lionel Messi played no part as Argentina beat Chile at Levi's Stadium on Monday night, not that you would have noticed if you had only paid attention to the 70,000 fans who came to see the Barcelona star.It was, in fact, Angel Di Maria who shone brightest in Messi's absence, scoring one and laying on another in a 2-1 victory that puts Tata Martino's side in pole position to finish in top spot.
This was an emotional night for Di Maria. Upon scoring his goal, he revealed a shirt dedicated to his grandmother, who died just hours before the match. He cried his eyes out in a televised post-match interview, too, thanking his mother and his aunt for their support heading into the match.
The fans here in Santa Clara were not to know about his loss, but they did little to make him feel appreciated. They had turned up to see Messi and they chanted his name incessantly throughout the match, even though a back injury ensured he had no chance of making it onto the pitch.
Even as Di Maria was pulling the strings once more, having already given his side the lead with a well-struck near-post effort that caught out Claudio Bravo, and then darted through the middle to set up Ever Banega to essentially score the same goal, the fans cheered for Messi. It felt strange, perhaps even a little cruel regardless of personal circumstances, but that speaks for the desire among the American public to see the best player in the world.
But it was Di Maria who showed exactly what he is made of to ease his side through its toughest assignment of the group stage, against one of the toughest teams in the tournament. With Panama and Bolivia up next, Argentina has done the hard part.
Perhaps Messi will be back for Argentina's next game on Friday, and those fans who are so desperate to see him will have to wait.
This was Di Maria's night. He enjoyed a fine debut season with Paris Saint-Germain after prematurely calling time on his stint at Manchester United. He was a victim of the Louis van Gaal regime at Old Trafford, but he has been liberated in France, and it is that form he has carried into the Copa America Centenario.
He shone for his country at the 2014 World Cup but, on the back of his annus horibilis, he struggled at the Copa in Chile one year ago.
He has been accused of being flashy at the expense of an end product at times, but he was at his lethal best on Monday – just when Martino's men needed him most.
It was Chile which had the best of the first half, with Alexis Sanchez running the show and producing a fine save from Sergio Romero. But Di Maria struck six minutes after the break to knock the Copa holders down a peg or two, and then helped finish them off eight minutes later. Arsenal man Alexis had completely faded as Chile slipped out of the contest.
Di Maria departed with 10 minutes remaining, and while the reaction from the fans was warm, it was certainly not as rapturous as you would expect for the match winner. Of course, the supporters cheered for Messi again moments later, and then again once more, seconds after Di Maria was announced man of the match.
That is something Argentina will have to get used to as it progresses through this tournament, but perhaps the longer the star man is injured, the more opportunities the supporting cast will have to take center stage. It certainly worked for Di Maria.
This was an emotional night for Di Maria. Upon scoring his goal, he revealed a shirt dedicated to his grandmother, who died just hours before the match. He cried his eyes out in a televised post-match interview, too, thanking his mother and his aunt for their support heading into the match.
The fans here in Santa Clara were not to know about his loss, but they did little to make him feel appreciated. They had turned up to see Messi and they chanted his name incessantly throughout the match, even though a back injury ensured he had no chance of making it onto the pitch.
Even as Di Maria was pulling the strings once more, having already given his side the lead with a well-struck near-post effort that caught out Claudio Bravo, and then darted through the middle to set up Ever Banega to essentially score the same goal, the fans cheered for Messi. It felt strange, perhaps even a little cruel regardless of personal circumstances, but that speaks for the desire among the American public to see the best player in the world.
But it was Di Maria who showed exactly what he is made of to ease his side through its toughest assignment of the group stage, against one of the toughest teams in the tournament. With Panama and Bolivia up next, Argentina has done the hard part.
Perhaps Messi will be back for Argentina's next game on Friday, and those fans who are so desperate to see him will have to wait.
This was Di Maria's night. He enjoyed a fine debut season with Paris Saint-Germain after prematurely calling time on his stint at Manchester United. He was a victim of the Louis van Gaal regime at Old Trafford, but he has been liberated in France, and it is that form he has carried into the Copa America Centenario.
He shone for his country at the 2014 World Cup but, on the back of his annus horibilis, he struggled at the Copa in Chile one year ago.
He has been accused of being flashy at the expense of an end product at times, but he was at his lethal best on Monday – just when Martino's men needed him most.
It was Chile which had the best of the first half, with Alexis Sanchez running the show and producing a fine save from Sergio Romero. But Di Maria struck six minutes after the break to knock the Copa holders down a peg or two, and then helped finish them off eight minutes later. Arsenal man Alexis had completely faded as Chile slipped out of the contest.
Di Maria departed with 10 minutes remaining, and while the reaction from the fans was warm, it was certainly not as rapturous as you would expect for the match winner. Of course, the supporters cheered for Messi again moments later, and then again once more, seconds after Di Maria was announced man of the match.
That is something Argentina will have to get used to as it progresses through this tournament, but perhaps the longer the star man is injured, the more opportunities the supporting cast will have to take center stage. It certainly worked for Di Maria.
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