Chile humiliate Mexico in 7-0 thrashing to advance to Copa América semi-final

Mexico rode into Saturday’s Copa América quarter-final with Chile on a wave of mounting momentum, unbeaten in 22 games and with the biggest support of any team in the competition. They left shellshocked, struggling to make sense of their worst ever defeat in a major tournament. Their fans were fleeing Santa Clara’s sold-out Levi’s Stadium in droves long before this eviscerating 7-0 humiliation was over. Those that stayed took to ironically cheering every Chilean pass with cries of “olé!” while one Mexican journalist described it as “the blackest night in the history of Mexican football”.

It was also a night of vindication for Chile’s Juan Antonio Pizzi, who had overseen just one win in his first five games after replacing Jorge Sampaoli in January, but has now masterminded three consecutive victories in the last eight days. His side pressed relentlessly and they repeatedly ripped Mexico’s defence apart, with Eduardo Vargas claiming four goals and taking his tally in the tournament to six in four matches. La Roja’s title defence remains alive and they now face Colombia in Wednesday’s semi-final, with a repeat of last year’s final against Argentina looking increasingly likely…

Click here to read this article in full at The Guardian.