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Chile 1 Colombia 1: Rodriguez nets equaliser after Vidal opener

Chile's 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying came to an end after playing out a 1-1 with Colombia in Santiago.

Arturo Vidal opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time as he headed past David Ospina from close range before James Rodriguez netted a scruffy equaliser with 22 minutes remaining on Thursday.

Jorge Sampaoli's side, who lifted their first Copa America title in July, looked composed at Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos as they prevented Colombia to counter attacks.

Luis Muriel's pace began to cause Chile's high defensive line problems, and it was through the Sampdoria forward that Colombia created their best opening of the half.

Chile, orchestrated by Al-Wahda playmaker Jorge Valdivia, continued to press with their intricate passing around the 18-yard box but Jeison Murillo and Christian Zapata kept Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas at an arm's length with some tight marking.

With half an hour played in Santiago, Sanchez found space from the edge of the box  but the Arsenal forward could only drag his weak effort wide of the goal.

Matias Fernandez's curled free-kick into the area was met by Vidal, who rose highest from six-yards out to crash his header into the bottom corner past the helpless Ospina.

A smart training ground routine from a corner eventually saw Sanchez – who had been kept quiet for the majority of the tie – strike over and Carlos Bacca, a late substitute for Muriel, saw his penalty appeal turned down.