Chile beat Cameroon 2-0 on Sunday in the opening group B game of the ongoing Fifa Confederations cup in Russia. Goals from Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal and Tigres forward Eduardo Vargas handed the 2015 Copa America champions all three points to move top of group B.
Chile had the better of the early chances of the game, but where denied a goal in the first half by stunning saves from Cameroon short stopper Fabrice Ondoa.
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez came off the bench in the second half to cross for Vidal’s 81st-minute header, with Vargas finishing in injury-time after Sanchez rounded the keeper but failed to beat a defender on the line.
Had Sanchez found the net, he would have become Chile’s all-time leading goalscorer. He currently has 37 goals, level with former Lazio and Juventus striker Marcelo Salas, who retired in 2008.
Just before the break in Moscow, Vargas had a strike ruled out for a very marginal offside following the use of video technology. His goal in the 91st minute was also referred to the video assistant referees presumably to check on another possible offside but it stood.
The other two teams in Group B, Australia and world champions Germany play on Monday.