Sanchez strikes as Chile thrashes Japan

The 2015 and 2016 Copa champion took the lead late in the first half with a towering header from midfielder Erick Pulgar. Journeyman striker Eduardo Vargas then continued his remarkable consistency for his country by scoring at a fourth consecutive major tournament and doubling Chile’s lead in the 54th minute with the help of a deflection. Sanchez made it 3-0 with a diving header from close range in the 82nd minute, Chile’s all-time top scorer punching the air in delight after enduring a frustrating season with United compounded by a knee injury suffered in March.

A minute later Sanchez laid on a pass for Vargas to score again, a classy chip which saw him become Chile’s top scorer in the Copa America (12) and replace Marcelo Salas as the country’s second all-time leading scorer behind Sanchez.

Sanchez said he had come through one of the worst periods of his career recently. “For six weeks I felt worse than I ever have before,” he told reporters.