Copa America 2015: Friday's Day 9 Takeaways
Chile and Bolivia knew they had both qualified for the Copa America quarter-finals before they played, after Ecuador beat Mexico earlier in the evening.
That meant their game carried less weight, but Chile's victory over the minnows means they finish top of the group and will have an easier fixture, in theory, in the next round.
Chile beat Bolivia 5-0 at Santiago's Estadio Nacional, after Ecuador saw off Mexico 2-1 at El Teniente in Rancagua.
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Both games saw the better team win, with Jorge Sampaoli's La Roja significantly better than their opponents.
Two goals from Charles Aranguiz, an own goal by Ronald Raldes and one each for Alexis Sanchez and Gary Medel were more than enough for the tournament hosts to progress.
In the other game, Miller Bolanos and Enner Valencia were on target for Ecuador, while Raul Jimenez struck one back for Mexico.
Here are the takeaways from the two games on Friday night.
1. This is Alexis Sanchez's tournament for the taking
Each of the big teams have a star. Argentina's is Lionel Messi, Brazil's was Neymar, before his head-butt on Jeison Murillo, and Chile's is Alexis.
He was one of the best players on the pitch in the previous two games but didn't find the net, with Arturo Vidal and Eduardo Vargas hogging all the goalscoring glory.
This, though, was finally Alexis' turn to get on the scoresheet, producing a wonderful diving header from Jorge Valdivia's cross.
Alexis had started the move with a burst forward, before finding the playmaker who served it back to him with pleasure.
Obviously, Chile have strength in many areas, with Vidal, Claudio Bravo and Valdivia top-class players too, but Alexis has the sheer dynamism and drive to move La Roja up to the next level.
They finished top of the group and will play one of the two third-placed teams in the quarter-finals.
Alexis can make the difference in tight games and can help Chile push their advantage home in games like these.
The Arsenal man has enjoyed being the "king" at club level this season after years at Barcelona out on the right and is having fun being the star of his international side too.
Plenty of Chile's success is based on the work of coach Jorge Sampaoli, a great team intensity and the other excellent players, but Alexis is the jewel in the crown. Acting and playing like a leader. A winner.
2. Bolivia will be in demand
First thing's first, let's praise Mauricio Soria's team. Bolivia won their first game since 1997 in the Copa America against Ecuador, and their first game out of their own country since 1995.
They have played with spirit and passion, and this is the first time they have reached the second phase of the tournament for 20 years.
But they were taken apart by Chile at the Estadio Nacional, and they will be the team that everybody wants to play in the tournament quarter-finals.
They will play against the team that finish second in Group C, so Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela will all wonder if winning their group is actually the best way forward.
Against Ecuador, Bolivia nearly let a three-goal lead slip, and they looked lacking in finesse in their 0-0 opener against Mexico.
Marcelo Martins is a threat up front, but there is not enough substance behind him to sustain a deeper tournament.
Their only hope is to try and play like Paraguay did in last year's tournament, scraping their way to the final. They are, however, less organised than Tata Martino's team was then, and it's difficult to imagine that happening.
3. Ecuador waiting in purgatory
The Copa America's group phase is a little bit odd. Ecuador have three points and finished third, but they don't know if they will reach the next round yet.
Two teams go through from each group, plus the best two third-placed teams from the three groups.
That means Ecuador, who have three points and a goal difference of minus two (four scored, six conceded), will be hoping that either Uruguay lose badly against Paraguay or there are two heavy beatings in Group C.
That might be the best chance of success, with all three teams on three points, ahead of Brazil against Venezuela and Peru's clash with Colombia.
They would need two teams to win by some distance to damage the goal differences of the sides that lose.
Ecuador's triumph in Rancagua was Ecuador’s first Copa America win in 11 matches. Last time they won was in 2001 against Venezuela.
So they will be praying that results go their way, and they can get the chance to prolong their winning "run."
Miller Bolanos, who scored the opener against Mexico, is also the first Bolivian to score in two consecutive games at the Copa America since Ivan Kaviedes in 1999, so he too will be desperate for the chance to continue in the same vein of form.
4. Mexico deserve early elimination
If you bring a shadow squad to a tournament like this, don't expect many people to be on your side.
With the Gold Cup coming up, Miguel Herrera left out many of his stars, such as Javier Hernandez, Guillermo Ochoa and Carlos Vela.
The team he brought to the tournament wasn't good enough to win a single match, drawing with Chile and Bolivia and losing to Ecuador.
That said, the game against hosts Chile, which finished 3-3, will live long in the memory and may end up being the game of the tournament.
The likes of Raul Jimenez, who scored twice, Jesus Corona and veteran Matias Vuoso did well, but the team as a whole wasn't impressive.
If anything, this poor overall performance will put more pressure on their shoulders ahead of the Gold Cup.
You could argue that the younger players in the side got some worthwhile experience, but then again they would benefit a lot more from playing with the actual first XI.
It is understandable that they cannot bring the same squad to both tournaments; it wouldn't be fair on the players and their clubs to fill up their whole summer with fixtures.
El Tri wouldn't turn down the opportunity to play, so perhaps they shouldn't have been offered it this year, with the Gold Cup on the horizon.
This is the second tournament running Mexico have been knocked out in the group stage. Hopefully at the centenary tournament next year, they come back at full force.
5. Arturo Vidal is still "El Rey"
The king's crown slipped this week, and so did his £230,000 Ferrari, off the motorway and into trouble.
Arturo Vidal's car was wrecked by his accident on Tuesday night, which saw him total his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
But when the teams came out, Vidal got the loudest cheer from the Chilean supporters who know that without him their Copa America bid would be jeopardised.
Chile haven never won the tournament, and if the kingpin of their midfield had been taken out of action, it would have been a disaster for the country.
Of course there are moral issues with the message keeping him in the side sends, but as ever in the football world, they are brushed under the carpet.
Vidal was taken off at half-time, but the reception the fans gave him shows that his indiscretion will soon be forgotten in his homeland.
Even after his substitution, he was hailed by supporters as he warmed down, while his colleagues secured their victory.
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