Argentina vs Chile 1-0: World Cup Qualifier 2025 Thriller Solidifies Argentina’s Dominance

Match Overview: Argentina vs Chile World Cup Qualifier 2025

The football match between Argentina and Chile began its kick off at 9:00 p.m. ET on June 5, 2025, featuring Argentina as the reigning World Cup champions and a Chilean squad currently trying to escape from the bottom of the CONMEBOL standings. Argentina had already qualified for the 2026 World Cup and controlled possession for 58% of the match while registering 12 shots (5 on goal), while Chile had 8 (2 on goal) . The only goal of the match came from Julian Alvarez in the first half, giving the Albiceleste a 1-0 triumph despite Chile’s late push .

With this victory, Argentina has extended its unbeaten run against Chile to 8 matches (5 wins and 3 draws) and strengthened its historical advantage with 58 wins from 90 matches as compared to Chile’s 6 . The Argentina-Chile football rivalry remains one of the strongest in South America, and this result demonstrates Argentina’s tactical flexibility under head coach Lionel Scaloni .

Key Moments and Goals in Argentina vs Chile

Here’s a breakdown of the Argentina vs Chile match highlights:

  • First Half (15th Minute): The match opened quietly, with both sides examining each other. Argentina had some early pressure, but Chile’s backline, with Claudio Bravo especially, defended well .
  • First Half (Goal: Julian Alvarez, 1-0): Alvarez opened the scoring with a goal on a tight angle from a perfect pass from Rodrigo De Paul. The goal was celebrated and widely reported on X. Alvarez and Argentina went into halftime with a 1-0 lead .
  • Second Half: Chile were pressing for an equalizer, and had a few chances through Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez. Emiliano Martinez was forced into action, but Nicolas Otamendi and the Argentinians defended well.
  • Stoppage Time (5 Minutes Added): Only 5 minutes of stoppage was announced by the referee. Chile’s high press resulted in a late chance near the end of stoppage time, but Emiliano Martinez was able to keep the clean sheet for Argentina .

Overall, this match was a tactical match, with Chile using a rough approach and some “dark arts” to upset Argentina’s flow. However, the Albiceleste showed their composure when needed to earn the full 3 points .

Key Players in Argentina vs Chile

Argentina’s Standouts

  • Julian Alvarez: The Manchester City attacker struck the only goal of the game with a ruthless finish. He was hailed as a “game-changer” for his impact. Keywords: Julian Alvarez goal, Argentina World Cup qualifiers.
  • Emiliano Martinez: The goalkeeper made essential saves, especially in the dying moments, to ensure his clean sheet.
  • Rodrigo De Paul: The midfielder’s assist for Alvarez’s goal and ability to control the middle of the park were essential in Argentina’s overall dominance.
  • Lionel Messi: Although not confirmed as a starter because of question marks over fitness, had Messi been a player (and not a spectator in the stands) or somehow led the team, was enormously influential to the players around him.

Argentina used Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, and Alexis Mac Allister for the open 21 players, as coach Scaloni rotated players to manage fatigue.

Chile’s Key Performers

  • Claudio Bravo: The experienced goalkeeper made some critical saves to keep Chile in the game.
  • Eduardo Vargas: Vargas may not have scored in the game, but he was a constant threat and nearly equalized in the second half.
  • Alexis Sanchez: Sanchez played deeper than he usually does in a bid to ignite the Chilean attack, yet he was unable to find his teammates.
  • Mauricio Isla: Isla led Chile’s defensive effort but was unable to stop Alvarez’ goal.

Chile, under Ricardo Gareca, had good intensity in the game but were unable to finish any of their chances, a continuing problem in their campaign.

Analysis: How Argentina Won and What Comes Next


Argentina secured the win through precise finishing and resolute defending. Julián Álvarez’s goal took advantage of Chile’s defensive breakdown and, even when Chile pushed in the final minutes of the match, Emiliano Martinez’s saves denied them any way back. The fact that Argentina have 4 wins in their last 5 matches, including a 4-1 thrashing of Brazil, speaks well to the form they have under Lionel Scaloni. Argentina did not seem to mind Lionel Messi’s absence or limited role due to his fitness //fitness concerns, which shows how deep their squad is.

From the Chilean perspective, despite sitting on the bottom of the CONMEBOL table with 10 points from 14 matches, it is going to be a massive job for them to meet the qualification challenge for the 2026 World Cup. Chile’s defending was resilient, but their attacking impotence is of concern . The loss to Argentina means they remain 5 points off the playoff spot with only 4 matches to play.

Argentina’s next game is against Bolivia, and they will want to maintain that top place in the CONMEBOL standings. Meanwhile for Chile, they will take on Colombia looking for points, as they will be very nervous about missing out on a third World Cup in a row.

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