Copa America 2019: Argentina 2-1 Chile - 3 talking points

#1 Both teams played out a tempestuous fixture

There were 39 fouls committed in the match

Given the physical nature of South American football and recent history between Argentina and Chile, a clash between both nations was not going to be for the faint hearted.

However, both sets of players took the physicality to another dimension. For most of the match, the fixture took on the form of a battle field with crunching tackles flying in and the referee having a hard time keeping the match in check.

There were a total of 39 fouls at full time, with Argentina committing 21 fouls to Chile's 18. Given the furious nature of the match, it was a given that a red card would be issued and that proved to be the case when Lionel Messi and Gary Medel were shown their marching orders with just 37 minutes gone.

It was just the second time in the last six editions of the Copa America that two red cards would be shown in the first half with the previous time also coming when Argentina and Chile faced off in the 2016 final.

Another by product of physical football matches is the concession of penalties and this fixture also witnessed one. Giovani Lo Celso was penalized for tripping Charles Aranguiz in the penalty box and Arturo Vidal converted the resultant spotkick.

In total, Mario Diaz de Vivar issued nine cards on the night as both sides rounded up their 2019 Copa America participation on a very physical note.