Chile vs Colombia, Copa América 2016 semi-final, live report
Two early goals were enough for Pizzi's men to make it through to Sunday's final in a game marked by the 2 and a half hour weather delay.
A game that will be remembered for the 2 hour and 29 minute delay to the restart of the second half restart rather than the action on the pitch as a massive electrical thunderstorm forced Copa America organisers to urge caution and delay the second 45 minutes.
Confusion was rampant in the stadium and throughout sports media outlets with many doubting if the game would restart today as torrential rain lashed down on Soldier Field in Chicago.
Eventually the fans and teams returned to the pitch and played out the remaining 45 minutes but Chile's early 7th and 11th minute strikes had already see "La Roja" on course to repeat last year's final when they take on Argentina on Sunday.
Here's how the action unfolded:
So its a repeat of the 2015 final as Argentina will be out to get revenge for last year's defeat to Chile.
FT - All over in Chicago - Chile 2-0 Colombia
Min 90+4 | Pulgar fouls on the edge of the area and presents James with a great chance to strike from a free kick, but he fires the ball straight into the wall.
in 90 & 2 | Play held up as a pitch invader takes to the pitch, beats the security guards but is eventually up-ended.
Min 90 | 4 minutes to be added as James gets booked for a rash challenge. A disappointing night for the Madrid player.
Min 88 | Problem for the El Salvador match official as Bacca should have seen a straight red for a shocking tackle. Chile players not happy as Bacca just gets a red.
Min 87 | Penalty call for Chile after Zapata takes out Alexis.
Chile sub: Mark Gonzalez on for Vargas
Min 85 | Chile's Silva, latest name in the book for breaking play by holding back Bacca.
Min 83 | Time running out for Colombia. Despite a gallant second half performance they have lacked the final pass and a player to finish off the few chances that have come their way.
Min 80 | Colombia go close as a James free kick is poorly cleared.
Sub: Cuadrado off / Carlos Bacca on for Colombia
Min 78 | Possession: Colombia 47% v Chile 53%
Min 75 | Change for Chile: Fuenzalida off and Puch his replacement
Colombia: Fabra is the player to make way for Perez.
Min 72 | Sebastian Perez about to come on for Colombia.
Min 70 | Colombia go close twice, Moreno fires into the side netting and a great long range drive from James Rodriguez goes close for the Real Madrid player. Courageous stuff here from Colombia.
Min 68 | Great run from Colombian defender Zapata, does everything right apart from a poor finish. Colombia not throwing in the towel.
Min 66 | Excellent header from Pulgar which called for an equally excellent save from Ospina. Chile looking for the third goal.
Min 65 | Yellow card for Chile's Jean Beausejour for a foul on Cuadrado. The Chilean defender will miss the final.
Min 62 | Chile have adapted much better to the conditions than Colombia who still try an play the ball along the surface which is totally waterlogged.
Min 59 | Difficult to see a way back for Pekerman's side given the conditions, playing with 10 men, the scoreline and Chile's dominance.
Min 57| Yellow for Sanchez for a tug on Aranguiz and as it's his second, it sees Colombia reduced to 10 men for the remainder of the game.
Min 52 | A frantic first few minutes in the half with a more of a sense of urgency from Colombia but this is affecting their final pass. Chile looking comfortable.
Sub at the interval for Colombia: Moreno on for Cardona
Min 47 | Plenty of surface water on the pitch and Colombia have just had a decent call for a penalty turned down.
Min 46 | We're back and hope you're still there!
We'll be underway at 2225 ET and 0525 CET, teams coming out to warm up again.
According to AS Chile's Carolina Fernandez, the referee has met with delegates from both Chile and Colombia and the game will be played today.
0430 CET | Still no confirmed update from the Copa America organisational committee. At present operatives are trying to sweep away the large volumes of surface weather that has accumulated on Soldier Field pitch.
A further hour will be given by the tournament organisers to see if meteorological conditions improve. If not, the second half will be played tomorrow.
The second half of the Copa America 2016 semi final in Chicago is suspended due to an electrical storm in the Chicago area. Fans have been told to seek refuge and early indications suggesting a 30 minute delay seem to have been optimistic with a delay of 2 hours or even suspension now being cited.
We'll keep you posted !
Half Time reflections:
A flying start for Pizzi's side who caught Colombia napping with two early goals in the space of four minutes. Colombia managed to regain composure as Chile sat back and played on the break. Cuadrado, James Rodriguez and Roger Martinez are looking particularly dangerous for Colombia who are far from out of this tie despite the two goal adverse scoreline.
HT - Chile 2-0 Colombia
Min 45 & 3| James tries a complicated left foot volley but fails to catch the ball cleanly.
Alexis booked for Chile for dangerous play.
Min 45 | Excellent long range drive from Sanchez which forces Bravo to pull off an excellent diving save to keep out what looked liked being a Colombian opener.
3 minutes of added time to be played
Despite weaving their way back into this game, Colombia need a goal. The Chilean side have sat much deeper since the second goal but look dangerous on the counter.
Min 41 | Colombia's Sanchez booked for a trip on Silva
Min 40 | Possession Chile 53% v Colombia 47%
Min 39 | Claudio Bravo booked for time wasting !
Min 37 | The Colombian midfielder opts to float the kick rather than shoot on goal. Chile clear.
Min 36 | Isla fouls Cardona and Colombia have a dangerous free kick with James to take
Min 34 | Now it's the Chilean defence who are having problems as Colombia break down the right hand side as Jean Beausejour is struggling to contain the Colombian pressure emanating from that flank.
Min 31 | Roger Martinez, James and Cardona linking well again for Colombia who are inching their way back into this game. The Real Madrid midfielders creativity causing problems for the Chile rear-guard.
Min 28 | After a minute back on the pitch he realizes that his knee is not right and falls to the Chicago pitch. Chile to make a change as Erick Pulgar takes Hernandez's place.
Injury: Chile's Hernandez sandwiched and needs medical attention, looks bad but after a minute on the sideline he's back on the pitch.
Min 24 | Excellent pass from James who finds Roger Martinez in on goal but the shot from the Colombian No. 9 is well saved from Bravo. Colombia seem to have weathered the storm.
Min 21 | Better from Colombia with Cuadrado and James linking well on the right wing. Despite the poor early showing from the Colombian's, Cuadrado even dared to cross the ball with a "rabona" flick.
Min 18 | Play held up temporarily as Chile keeper Claudio Bravo receives attention for a knock. Long faces on the Colombian fans in Soldier Field as their side seem impotent against Pizzi's side.
Min 15 | Alexis fires a shot which ricochets onto the post as Colombia are totally under the cosh from a rampant Chile here in Chicago.
Chile 2-0 Colombia
Jose Fuenzalida with the Chile goal who taps into an empty bet after the Colombian keeper taps a rasping shot from Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez onto the post and into the path of the grateful Fuenzalida.
Min 11 | Gooooooooooooool, Chile make it 2
Min 10 | Chile attack again with the Colombian defence all at sea. A poor final ball see's Colombia manage to scramble the ball away.
Chile 1-0 Colombia
Min 7 | Gooooooooool. Chile go ahead. A poor defensive header from Cuadrado finds Charles Aranguiz free and the Chilean just needs to tap home.
Min 4 | Little rhythm to the start of the game with neither side able to stamp any authority on the initial passage.
Off we go in Chicago...
It's national anthem time as the final few fans take their seats in Soldier Field Stadium, looking pretty full it has to be said despite elevated ticket prices.
The last time these sides faced each other in the Copa America was in 2001 with a 2-0 win for Colombia.
Colombia wearing their all white kit this evening with Chile (South America's very own 'La Roja) wear all red.
Good evening, night, morning wherever you are in the world as Chile and Colombia take to Soldier Field in Chicago with a place in the Copa America 2016 final at stake.
Confirmed line-ups
Chile: Claudio Bravo; Mauricio Isla, Gary Medel, Gonzalo Jara, Jean Beausejour; Francisco Silva, Charles Aránguiz, Pedro Pablo Hernández; José Pedro Fuenzalida, Eduardo Vargas y Alexis Sánchez.
Colombia: David Ospina; Frank Fabra, Cristian Zapata, Jeison Murillo, Santiago Arias; Carlos Sánchez, Daniel Torres, James Rodríguez, Edwin Cardona, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado; Roger Martínez.
Welcome to the live minute-by-minute coverage and build-up of Chile vs Colombia, semifinal of the Centenary Copa America which kickS-off at 19.00 (CDT) on Wednesday 22 June at the Soldier Field, Chicago (Illinois).
Preview Chile – Colombia
Chile
La Roja come into the semifinal in high spirits after demolishing Mexico 7-0 in the last eight, a win which included four goals from Eduardo Vargas. However, Juan Antonio Pizzi’s men will have to do without star midfielder Arturo Vidal against Colombia, as he serves a one match suspension for yellow card accumulation. Chile will be able to count on their other big names though, striker Alexis Sanchez and keeper Claudio Bravo.
Colombia
Colombia arrive at this stage of the Copa America following a dramatic quarterfinal penalty shootout win over Peru. The hero in that encounter – which ended 0-0 after extra time – was undoubtedly the Colombian goalie David Ospina.
Coach José Pékerman has an impressive record against Chile: he’s never lost to La Roja with Colombia, and only fallen once against them in the whole of his career. Colombia can also count on stand-out player James Rodriguez, who's been on top form so far in the competition.