Copa America 2019: 3 Reasons why Chile won against Japan

Chile kicked-off their Copa America title defence with a resounding 4-0 win over Asian giants Japan in a crucial group C match. The win puts Chile on top of their group, level on stats with Uruguay after both the sides scored 4 and conceded nil.

The defending champions started the match brightly but had to wait till the end of the first half to get their goal after the Japanese side kept them quiet. The deadlock was broken in the 41st minute as Eric Pulgar rose high to meet Charles Aranguiz corner to give a 1-0 lead going into the first half.

Eduardo Vargas then doubled the advanatage for the defending champions in the 54th minute. Alexis Sanchez then broke his 5-month goal drought to score a third of the match in the 82nd before setting up Eduardo Vargas for his second and Chile's 4th of the night in the very next minute.

Let's take a look at 3 reasons why Chile won their opening match.

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#3 Japan fails to convert chances

The Japanese side came into the Copa America with a very young squad as they looked to provide first team experience to the side before playing the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The gulf in experience was quite evident in the first few minutes as Japan failed to get to grips with the situation.

The Chilean attack did not allow the Japanese to settle themselves as they kept their defence engaged. The Asian side failed to make use of the few chances they had in the first half. The first goal though disrupted their rhythm as Chile started to get the grip over the match.

The second goal from Chile saw the South Americans taking their foot off the gas as the Japanese side made inroads into the Chilean defence. The young Japanese though failed to muster a shot on target despite producing brilliant balls. The Asian side found themselves with the goal at their mercy on more than one occasion.

They were then made to rue their chances as Chile scored twice in the last 10 minutes of the match to secure a 4-0 victory.

#2 Eduardo Vargas impressive goalscoring run in the Copa America continues

Vargas now has 13 goals in the Copa America.

There are players who are brilliant once they wear the colors of their country, and Eduardo Vargas is one of those players. Coming into the tournament with a decent return of 17 goals from 48 matches across all competitions for Mexican side Tigres UNAL, Vargas was on-song from the moment the match started.

Along with Alexis Sanchez, Vargas was the main threat for the Chilean attack as the defending champions looked to break through in the opening minutes of the match. The deadly duo were one of the stars in the previous two tournaments that Chile won.

Eduardo Vargas kick-started his Copa America campaign in the 54th minute of the match. The Tigres UNAL strikers brilliant first-time shot was deflected into the net as Chile made it 2-0 after Mauricio Isla set up the goal for the 29-year old.

The goal put the 29-year old on 12 goals in the tournament's history, breaking into the top 10 all-time Copa America goal scorers as he moved level on goals with Uruguayan legends Roberto Porta and Angel Romano.

His biggest moment of the match was yet to come through. In the 83rd minute, Sanchez and Vargas combined together to score the 4th of the match. The Manchester United man brilliantly found Vargas with a through ball but it was the striker's finish that was the moment of the day.

Vargas, from outside the penalty area, lobbed the ball over the onrushing Japanese goalkeeper Keisuke Osako to score his second of the match and moved to 13 goals in the tournaments history, moving to 9th in the all-time list and level on goals with Ademir, Gabriel Batistuta, Jairzinho, Jose Manuel Moreno and Héctor Scarone.

The Chilean will need Eduardo to be at his best if they are to defend their title yet again.

#1 Resurgent Alexis Sanchez steals the show

Alexis Sanchez looked like a man on a mission

Alexis Sanchez had been struggling with poor form and injuries since his switch to Manchester United from Arsenal. The 30-year-old winger who United purchased during the January transfer window in the 2017-18 season had made just under 50 appearances for the Red Devils, with many of them coming from the bench.

Today at the Estadio Morumbi, the Chilean winger showed the world why he was one of the best players in the Premier League with a typical Alexis Sanchez display. The former Arsenal man was on-song all evening as he toyed with the young and inexperienced Japanese side.

The winger looked very dangerous right from the start, dragging his shot wide on a couple of occasions in the first half. The Japanese defence tried desperately to disrupt the rhythm of the Manchester United man, as they constantly fouled the 30-year old.

The day though had the Chilean No.7's name written all over it. After going 2-0 up after 54 minutes courtesy of goals from Eric Pulgar and Eduardo Vargas, La Roja suddenly took their foot off the gas as the Asian side slowly started asserting themselves on the match.

After almost half an hour of Japanese dominance, the Chilean side suddenly sprung to life. A teasing ball lobbed into the penalty box by Charles Aranguiz was met headed in by Sanchez, as Chile went 3-0 up to put down any fears of a Japanese revival. Sanchez had more reason to rejoice as he finally ended a five-month goal drought dating back to January.

Much more joy was to follow as a brilliant ball by the Manchester United man in the very next minute set Eduardo Vargas up to score his second of the night. Sanchez capped his all-round brilliant display by winning the man of the match award.

The match proved to be more of a statement by Sanchez, as the forward looks to get back to the form that made him one of the most feared wingers in the Premier League.