Canada Beat 10-Man Peru to Boost Copa America Knockout Hopes
Canada secured a 1-0 victory over Peru in their Copa America Group A match in Kansas City, raising hopes of a top-two finish and a spot in the knockout stages.
Forward Jonathan David scored the decisive goal in the 74th minute, marking Canada’s first goal under new manager Jesse Marsch.
Despite having more possession in the first half, Canada struggled to create clear chances.
Peru’s Piero Quispe forced a sharp save from Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, and Gianluca Lapadula had a goal disallowed for offside.
In a dramatic moment during stoppage time in the first half, assistant referee Humberto Panjoj collapsed. Crépeau quickly alerted medical staff, who took Panjoj off the field on a stretcher.
The turning point came after the break when Peru’s Miguel Araujo was sent off following a VAR review for a heavy challenge on Jacob Shaffelburg. Shortly after, David finished a swift counter-attack, set up by Cyle Larin and Shaffelburg, to give Canada the lead.
Crépeau made crucial saves in stoppage time to preserve the win, which was Canada’s first-ever victory in the Copa America and their first win over a South American team since 2000. This win also marked head coach Jesse Marsch’s first triumph since taking charge in May.
Argentina Beats Chile to Seal Copa America Quarterfinal Place
Lautaro Martínez’s late goal secured a 1-0 victory for Argentina over Chile, guaranteeing a spot in the Copa America quarterfinals.
Martínez scored in the 88th minute, capitalizing on a rebound from a shot blocked by Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Argentina dominated the match, taking 21 shots to Chile’s three and earning 11 corner kicks.
Lionel Messi, playing a day after his 37th birthday, showcased his skill in front of a sellout crowd of 81,106 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Messi nearly scored with a 30-yard shot that hit the post in the 36th minute. He also assisted Nicolás González, whose shot was parried off the crossbar by Bravo in the 62nd minute.
Argentina’s defence held strong, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez making key saves late in the match. The win came on the 46th anniversary of Argentina’s first World Cup title and at the same stadium where Chile defeated Argentina in the 2016 Copa America final.
Bravo, at 41, became the oldest player in Copa America history with this match, making eight saves in his 150th international appearance. He and Messi, former Barcelona teammates, shared a moment before leading their teams onto the field.