Argentina disappoint

Both teams fielded experimental lineups of home-based players in front of a 60,000 crowd at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium in Mendoza, at the foot of the Andes separating the two countries.

Argentina, whose players had only a handful of caps between them, started promisingly with Jonathan Bottinelli hitting the crossbar and Jose Sosa, Daniel Montenegro and Fernando Belluschi also going close.

Chile playmaker Jorge Valdivia had a shot deflected wide as the visitors began to look menacing before halftime. Argentina goalkeeper Juan Carrizo was called into action to block a shot from teenager Alexis Sanchez.

In the second half, Belluschi struck the post for Argentina from a rebound after Daniel Diaz's free kick was parried by Miguel Pinto, and Mariano Pavone squandered another chance for the hosts.

Both teams had late chances from free kicks but Leonardo Ponzio fired over the bar for Argentina and Valdivia's effort for Chile was comfortably saved by Carrizo.