Chile 11-10 for Copa spoils after reaching final
HOSTS Chile are 11-10 for Copa America glory after booking their berth in Saturday's final with a 2-1 semi-final success over Peru in Santiago.
Eduardo Vargas, who only scored four goals in his season-long loan at QPR from Napoli, took his tournament tally to four for La Roja with a brace either side of half-time and a Gary Medel-own goal following a whipped in cross from Jefferson Farfan.
And if Vargas' opener after 42 minutes was scrappy, the winner was a screamer from distance worthy of settling any match.
However, the controversial sending-off of Peru centre-back Carlos Zambrano after 20 minutes for a raised foot into the back Charles Aranguiz will likely be considered the game's defining moment.
Argentina are a shade of odds-on favourites in the betting with most bookmakers to triumph before Tuesday's second semi-final in Concepcion with Paraguay. But Ladbrokes go a standout 21-20 about La Albiceleste. Paraguay, runners-up four years ago to Uruguay, are as big as 16-1.
Argentina are a general 4-9 to beat Paraguay in 90 minutes, with the draw at 7-2 with Boylesports and La Albiroja at 17-2 with bet365. In the quarter-finals, Argentina beat Colombia 5-4 on penalties after drawing 0-0, while Paraguay beat Brazil 4-3 on spot-kicks after drawing 1-1. Extra-time will not be played - it is straight to a shootout if scores are level at the final whistle.
Vargas is now 1-3 to end up the tournament's top scorer. He is one goal clear of compatriot Arturo Vidal (6-1) and Peru's Paolo Guerrero (13-2 with Friday's third-place playoff to come). Ace Argentina duo Sergio Arguero (two goals) and Lionel Messi (one goal) are 10-1 and 16-1 respectively to top the charts.