San Juan: Chile came back from a goal down to beat Mexico 2-1 in their first game in the 2011 Copa America, moving the side to the top of Group C.
Goals from substitute Esteban Paredes and midfielder Arturo Vidal cancelled out a Nestor Araujo opener, and gave their side a well-earned victory in an impressive display.
Chile started the game the brighter, applying pressure on the young Mexican side with three corners in the first eight minutes. The first chance of the game fell to Barcelona target Alexis Sanchez, who latched onto a long through ball but fired wide of Luis Michel's right post.
Neat passing and movement, with Mauricio Isla the fulcrum of the Chilean's attacking intent, created two chances for Humberto Suazo in the space of five minutes, but the Monterrey forward could not capitalise, seeing one effort saved by Michel and the other fly over the bar from ten yards. Sporting Lisbon midfielder Matias Fernandez also went close on 25 minutes, with a curling free kick from 25 yards flying just wide.
Mexico looked to soak up pressure and hit their opponents on the counterattack, and Giovani Dos Santos was the team's main threat. In a swift counterattack, the Tottenham man saw a shot blocked by Waldo Ponce as he spurned Rafael Marquez Lugo's attempts of support to shoot himself.
Against the run of play, the underdogs took the lead on 41 minutes, however, with Nestor Araujo heading over Claudio Bravo. A long ball into the box by Dos Santos was not dealt with by the Chilean defence, allowing the 19-year-old to head home from ten yards and give the young side the lead at the break.
Claudio Borghi's side started the second half as they ended the first, with long spells of possession leading to the Mexican side dropping deeper and deeper. On 52 minutes, Suazo missed his third chance of the game, firing straight at captain Michel, who saved well. Chilean fans may have started to think it might be one of those days and Paredes was brought on to add more attacking impetus for the ineffective Jean Beausejour on the hour mark.
The Colo Colo forward only needed six minutes on the pitch before grabbing the all-important equaliser. Sanchez forced a corner with good work down the right, which was floated in by Fernandez, allowing Pablo Contreras to beat his marker and direct a shot across goal. Paredes beat a man on the post to fire home from a yard out and square things up.
Mexico's confidence looked to be wavering, with Chile pushing forward more and taking the lead after 72 minutes. Another right-sided corner from Fernandez was attacked at the near post by Bayer Leverkusen's Vidal, who powered a bullet header into the roof of the net, giving Michel no chance.
Sanchez and Suazo continued to threaten in search of a decisive third and the pair combined for the latter to fire a dangerous ball across goal with ten minutes remaining, with Paredes a whisker away from converting and deciding the game.
In a last gasp attempt to grab a point, Mexico threw on Edgar Pacheco, who had a great chance to be a hero with his first touch but he couldn't beat Bravo from six yards. A Diego Reyes header from the resulting corner was the youthful side's last chance but the shot-stopper again saved the effort to give his side a deserved win.
Chile take on Uruguay next, whilst Mexico need a result against Peru; both games take place on Friday.
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