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Vidal hits double in 3-3 Copa America draw with Mexico

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Vidal hits double in 3-3 Copa America draw with Mexico
Vidal hits double in 3-3 Copa America draw with Mexico
Vidal hits double in 3-3 Copa America draw with Mexico

Arturo Vidal bagged a brace and also chipped in with an assist as Copa America hosts Chile drew 3-3 with Mexico in Santiago on Monday evening.

The Juventus midfielder grabbed his first on 23 minutes, rising highest to power a header into the bottom corner just 120 seconds after Vicente Vuoso had put El Tri ahead.

Mexico then regained their lead just shy of the half-hour mark, Raul Jimenez diverting home with his head to once again stun the Estadio Nacional. But the first-half scoring didn’t stop there as an unmarked Eduardo Vargas nodded in Vidal’s centre to make it 2-2 at the break.

Chile were able to finally get their noses in front for the first time on 55 minutes when Vidal converted his second spot-kick of the competition with aplomb after being hauled down by Gerardo Flores in the area.

There was still more drama to come through, as Mexico’s Vuoso latched on to a searching ball over the top before sidefooting his effort beyond the onrushing Claudio Bravo midway through the second period.

Monday’s result means Chile stay top of Group A on goal difference, level on points with Bolivia who defeated Ecuador 3-2 earlier on in the day. The two teams will now go head to head in Santiago on Friday, looking to qualify for the competition’s knockout phase.

Tonight’s Copa America action sees Carlos Tevez and Roberto Pereyra’s Argentina face off against Group B table-toppers Uruguay at 01.30 CEST. La Albiceleste will try to put the disappointment of Saturday’s 2-2 stalemate with Paraguay behind them by ruling triumphant in La Serena.

Elsewhere, Italy travel to Geneva where they play Portugal in a friendly from 20.30. The Azzurri will be without Gianluigi Buffon who returned home at the weekend, but will be able to count on Bianconeri trio Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio for the encounter.

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