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Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Chile vs Panama. Copa America Group D.

Lincoln Financial Field.

Chile 4

  • E Vargas (15th minute, 43rd minute)
  • A Sánchez (50th minute, 89th minute)

Panama 2

  • M Camargo (5th minute)
  • A Arroyo (75th minute)

Chile 4-2 Panama: Chile through to Copa America quarter-finals after six-goal thriller

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Alexis Sanchez scores twice as Chile beat Panama 4-2 at the Copa America. Pictures courtesy of Premier Sports

Defending champions Chile were made to work hard for their Copa America quarter-final place as tournament debutantes Panama threatened to cause an upset in Philadelphia.

Panama took a shock fifth-minute lead through Miguel Camargo but Eduardo Vargas struck twice to give Chile a deserved half-time advantage.

Alexis Sanchez added another and though Abdiel Arroyo pulled one back, Sanchez made it 4-2 as Chile joined Argentina in qualifying from Group D.

Camargo opened the scoring early on when he let fly from 25 yards on an angle and the ball bounced in front of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who failed to deal with it and saw it nestle in his net.

Abdeil Arroyo #16 of Panama is congratulated by Miguel Camargo #2 after his goal against Chile in the second half during the 20
Image: Abdeil Arroyo is congratulated by Miguel Camargo after his goal against Chile

Mauricio Isla's effort was deflected behind as Chile sought a response, which came on the quarter-hour when Jaime Penedo saved Alexis Sanchez's low shot but Vargas followed up to sidefoot home.

Penedo saved a weak volley from a stretching Charles Aranguiz and then brilliantly tipped Arturo Vidal's header around the post. The Bayern Munich midfielder stayed forward to nod Sanchez's cross just over and then made a vital impact at the other end with a sliding interception to prevent Luis Tejada going through on goal.

Eduardo Vargas #11 of Chile is congratulated by teammates Gonzalo Jara #18 and Jean Beausejour #15 after scoring second goal of
Image: Eduardo Vargas celebrates with team-mates Gonzalo Jara and Jean Beausejour

Chile dominated the rest of the first half and finally got their reward two minutes before the break when Vargas headed in Jean Beausejour's left-wing cross.

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Panama's half-time substitutes Gabriel Torres and Arroyo wasted no time announcing themselves, Torres winning the ball deep in the Chile half but Arroyo firing wide.

Alexis Sanchez #7 of Chile moves the ball as Roberto Nurse #9 of Panama defendsin the first half during the 2016 Copa America C
Image: Alexis Sanchez scored twice during the 4-2 victory in Philadelphia

Jose Pedro Fuenzalida curled just wide at the other end and Chile got a third when Vargas, seeking a hat-trick, was crowded out and unselfishly chipped the ball to Sanchez to rifle home on the volley.

Torres shot wide and was then unable to convert Arroyo's cut-back under pressure from Isla, but Arroyo set up a tense finish when his far-post header from fellow substitute Ricardo Buitrago's free-kick found the net with Barcelona keeper Bravo again badly at fault.

Penedo dived to save from lively Chile substitute Edson Puch but Sanchez had the final say with a deft header from Fuenzalida's cross.

You can watch the Copa America live on Premier Sports.

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