Argentina trounce Bolivia to seal Copa America top spot

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) – Argentina brushed aside Bolivia 4-1 late on Monday to secure top spot in their Copa America group.

Lionel Messi scored two goals and set up a third on a night when he surpassed Javier Mascherano as Argentina’s most capped player with 148 international appearances.

Papu Gomez and Lautaro Martinez were also on the mark for Argentina at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba.

In another Group A clash, Edinson Cavani fired home from the penalty spot to secure a 1-0 win for Uruguay over neighbors Paraguay.

Argentina topped Group A with 10 points, followed by Uruguay with seven.

Paraguay finished third with six points and Chile came in fourth with a tally of five points.

Four straight defeats left Bolivia without any points as they exited the tournament.

Argentina will face Ecuador in the quarterfinals, Uruguay take on Colombia, Chile play Brazil, and Peru will square off with Paraguay.