The 2015 Copa America got underway on Thursday, as hosts Chile got their tournament off to the perfect start with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador in Santiago.
Jorge Sampaoli's side started the game in breathtakingly adventurous fashion, threatening to overwhelm their opponents early on with the speed and inventiveness of some of their attacking moves. But an opening goal that initially looked inevitable somehow continued to elude them for the entirety of the first half. And as the game wore on the visitors became more settled and gradually more threatening on the counter-attack.
By the hour mark it looked like the expectant fans inside the Estadio Nacional would leave the ground disappointed, as Chile's attacking threat started to diminish, and Ecuador grew in confidence.