The Albiceleste went in search of a first major tournament success since 1993 but current holders Chile were seeking to retain their crown.
Chile won on home soil last summer, topping Argentina on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw, and La Albiceleste will be out for revenge Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey with a chance to snap a 23-year major trophy drought. Lionel Messi has yet to lift a trophy on the senior level with his country, and Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal & Co. will be aiming to keep it that way. The two met in the opening match of Group D play, with Messi-less Argentina winning 2-1 on goals and assists from Angel Di Maria and Ever Banega.
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La Roja claimed the title on home soil 12 months ago and hoped to be good enough to hold off an Albiceleste attack, who smashed this year's hosts, USA, 4-0 in their semi-final.
Alexis Sanchez and co. weren't going to give up their crown easily in New Jersey but could Argentina end a 23-year wait for continental glory?
Messi was his usual influential self in the run of play, only to stun the millions looking on when he fired his spot kick – Argentina's first – over the crossbar. That set the stage for his FC Barcelona teammate, Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, to play the hero by saving Lucas Biglia's attempt, while Francisco Silva netted the clincher to spark celebrations among La Roja and their fans.
Threats were abundant in a breathless first half, but clear scoring chances rare – until the 21st minute, when a mistake by Chile defender Gary Medel allowed Gonzalo Higuain to scamper into the clear and bear down on Bravo with the ball at his feet.
Higuain cut right and lifted his shot over the diving Bravo, and the entire stadium watched with bated breath as the ball bounced a few inches wide of the left post, which Medel crashed into painfully as he desperately sprinted back hoping to clear the effort off the line.
The match was bitty and somewhat violent, with few clear-cut chances and many cards.
Both sides were also reduced to ten men in the first half, with Marcelo Diaz and Marcos Rojo seeing red for Chile and Argentina, respectively.
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Understandably, neither side could, or would, sustain that breakneck tempo in the second half. But the intensity of the occasion remained riveting as the clash made its way into extra time deadlocked at 0-0.
Both sides went inches away from scoring via headers in the first half of extra time, only to be denied by sterling saves from Sergio Romero and Bravo, but it was the latter who seized the moment in the shootout.
The game hinged on penalties once again but after Vidal's opening effort was saved, Messi miscued, bowing his head and clenching his fists in frustration.
Nicolas Castillo and Aranguiz converted their kicks for Chile, while Javier Mascherano and Aguero dispatched theirs, but after Beausejour put Chile ahead, Bravo dived to his right to save from Biglia.
Silva kept his cool, drilling low into the corner as Chile's players raced to celebrate, Messi consoled by his team-mates as Argentina glory remains elusive.
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