The 2024 Copa America saw its first stalemate yesterday as Peru and Chile played out a 0-0 draw at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Group A encounter, played just a day after the tournament opener, offered a stark contrast to Argentina’s victory over Canada.

Despite fielding a talented attacking line featuring Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas, Chile struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against a well-organized Peruvian defense. Peru themselves had their moments, with veteran striker Paolo Guerrero threatening on a couple of occasions. However, neither side could find the finishing touch, leaving them both with a point to start their Copa America campaign.

This result throws Group A wide open. While Argentina sits atop the group after their win, both Peru and Chile remain very much in contention for a spot in the knockout stages. The upcoming matches, particularly the clashes between these two sides and the United States, will be crucial in determining who progresses.

Peruvian manager Juan Reynoso expressed his satisfaction with his team’s defensive performance. “We knew it would be a tough match,” he said. “Chile has some world-class attackers, but my boys stood strong. We’re disappointed not to get the win, but a clean sheet against a team like Chile is a positive start.”

Chilean boss Eduardo Berizzo acknowledged the need for improvement. “We lacked a bit of creativity in the final third,” he admitted. “We’ll need to be more clinical in our next match.”

The Copa America continues on with more exciting matchups scheduled for the coming days.