Summary The two-time world champions are determined to end a 23-year wait for a major title after suffering
SEATTLE (AFP) - Argentina maintained their 100 percent start to the Copa America Centenario with an easy win over Bolivia, as holders Chile booked their place in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The tournament favorites, already assured of a quarter-final berth after wins over Chile and Panama, wrapped up their Group D campaign with one-sided win at Seattle s CenturyLink Field.
The victory sees Argentina reach the last eight as group winners, handing them what in theory should be a straightforward assignment against Venezuela in Foxborough on Saturday.
The two-time world champions are determined to end a 23-year wait for a major title after suffering agonizing defeats in the finals of the 2014 World Cup and last year s Copa America.
Argentina coach Gerardo Martino elected to rest captain Lionel Messi after his devastating hat-trick performance against Panama.
But the Argentines were still far too strong for a feeble Bolivian team who were overwhelmed in a devastating opening period.
The match was effectively settled within the first quarter of an hour, with Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela opening the scoring with a deflected free-kick in the 13th minute.
Two minutes later China-based forward Ezequiel Lavezzi marked his comeback from injury with a goal, volleying home from close range after Gonzalo Higuain s downward header.
Central defender Victor Cuesta made it 3-0 just after the half-hour, diverting home Lavezzi s low cross in the 32nd minute.
With Messi coming on as a substitute at half-time, the game became a question of when or if the Barcelona superstar could grab a 54th international goal to equal Gabriel Batistuta s longstanding scoring record.
However despite Argentina s dominance of possession -- which reached 87 percent at one point -- Messi was unable to add to his tally.
In Tuesday s other game, Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas both scored twice as Chile advanced with a 4-2 victory over Panama.
Chile recovered from the shock of falling behind to a Miguel Camargo goal after only five minutes, with Vargas scoring twice before Arsenal s Sanchez grabbed a third in the Group D game.
Sanchez added his second in the 89th minute to complete the scoring.
Chile will now face Mexico in the pick of the quarter-finals on Saturday.
However they will be keen to iron out kinks in their defensive display which saw them concede two cheap goals.
The Chileans were given a scare early on when Camargo gave the Panamanians an early lead. Chile defender Gonzalo Jara was the culprit, giving away possession with a lazy pass out of defense that allowed Panama to pounce.
The ball arrived at Camargo s feet and the midfielder let fly with a venomous low shot which Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo failed to grasp to leave Panama 1-0 up.
Chile hit back quickly however, leveling through Vargas, who tapped in from close range after Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo could only half block a Sanchez shot.
Two minutes before the break, Chile took the lead, Vargas heading in a cross from the left for 2-1.
Five minutes into the second half, it was 3-1. Vargas picked out Sanchez with a lofted pass from one side of the penalty area to the other and the Arsenal star showed great technique to lash a volley into the roof of the net.
Chile were jolted by a second Panama goal on 75 minutes, when Abdiel Arroyo headed in a free-kick from Ricardo Buitrago to make it 3-2 but finished on top to seal the win when Sanchez added his second.
