Argentina was patient and secured a solid victory against Chile

• They managed to open the scoring at the end of the first half.
• Carina Núñez scored a stunning goal.

Group B kicked off with Argentina, the tournament’s last runner-up, securing a 4-0 victory against Chile.

Argentina was superior to Chile in the first half but struggled to reflect it on the scoreboard. Génesis Gómez and the post denied Noriega’s team on multiple occasions. After a failed Chilean attack, in the 14th minute, Mailén Romero took the ball in her own half, pushed forward, and finished with a cross-shot to put La Albiceleste ahead.

Argentina continued to dominate possession and had a quick burst that sealed the match: a great play by Romero led to Chiesa’s goal, and just a minute later, captain Carina Núñez struck a powerful volley for a 3-0 lead. Nava almost scored the fourth goal a minute later, but the post denied her.

Jazmín Della Vedova capitalized on a mistake by the Chilean goalkeeper to score the fourth and final goal of the game. Near the end, Chiesa came close to adding a fifth, but the goalkeeper and the post held firm.

Chile will seek to recover this Sunday when they face Colombia, who had a bye on the first day. Argentina will look for their second win against Peru.

Lineups

Argentina (4): 1-Trinidad D’Andrea, 5-Melina Quevedo, 7-Luciana Natta, 10-Silvina Nava, 13-Mailén Romero.

Substitutes: 2-Cintia López, 3-Lucía Rossi, 4-Sofía Florentín, 6-Jazmín Della Vedova, 8-Carina Núñez (Captain), 9-Ana Ontiveros, 11-Paula Chiesa, 12-Silvina Espinazo, 14-Alejandra Gayoso.

Coach: Nicolás Noriega

Chile (0): 12-Génesis Gómez, 2-Sara Allende, 8-Vilma Ruiz, 13-Daniela Gómez, 14-Nancy Álvarez.

Substitutes: 1-Valeria Rojas, 3-Emily Muñoz, 4-Francisca Puma, 5-Josefina Gómez, 6-Nadia Toro, 7-Daniela Panguinao (Captain), 9-Muriel Araneda, 10-Rocío Maira, 11-Giselle Padilla.

Coach: Gianluca Freddi

Goals

First Half: 14’ Mailén Romero (A). Halftime score: Argentina 1-0 Chile

Second Half: 7’ Paula Chiesa (A), 8’ Carina Núñez (A), 13’ Jazmín Della Vedova (A). Final score: Argentina 4-0 Chile

Cards: None.

Main referee: Astrid Mendoza (Paraguay)