Sizzling-hot Chile rout Bolivia 5-0 to advance to q-finals

PHOTO: REUTERS

Alexis Sanchez (in red) scoring with a diving header for Chile, who were rocked by the arrest for drink-driving of star midfielder Arturo Vidal on Tuesday.

The Copa America hosts turned on the style to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals as Group A winners with a 5-0 demolition of Bolivia in Santiago on Friday.

Both Chile, who had Vidal in their starting line-up, and Bolivia had already been assured of a place in the last eight after Ecuador's 2-1 victory over Mexico earlier in the day.

The hosts now face a quarter-final on Wednesday against the best-ranked, third-placed team from the first phase, most likely to be Uruguay or Paraguay.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on June 21, 2015, with the headline Sizzling-hot Chile rout Bolivia 5-0 to advance to q-finals. Subscribe