Alexis Sanchez shakes off injury and Man Utd misery to net Copa America winner for Chile

MANCHESTER UNITED flop Alexis Sanchez found home comforts as he maintained a 100 per cent scoring record at Copa America. The Chile forward, who scored just two goals in the whole of last season for United, netted his second in four days to secure their place in the next round. United’s £505,000-a-week man played through […]

MANCHESTER UNITED flop Alexis Sanchez found home comforts as he maintained a 100 per cent scoring record at Copa America.

The Chile forward, who scored just two goals in the whole of last season for United, netted his second in four days to secure their place in the next round.

EPA

Alexis Sanchez celebrates with relief after netting Chile’s winner against Ecuador[/caption]

United’s £505,000-a-week man played through pain in the Group C clash against Ecuador after suffering a first-half ankle injury.

Former West Ham forward Enner Valencia levelled the score from the penalty spot after Jose Pedro Fuenzalida’s eighth minute strike.

But six minutes into the second-half Sanchez popped up at the far post and saw his scuffed effort bounce off the turf and into the net.

COUNTRY BOY

The 30-year-old celebrated with wild relief after a miserable season at Old Trafford which was blighted by poor form and a knee injury in March.

“When I play for my country, I’m always playing happy,” Sanchez told reporters.

“”I twisted my ankle. I kept playing for the love I have for this national team.”

Sanchez scored just one Premier League goal, a dramatic late winner against Newcastle, and once in the FA Cup which helped knock Arsenal out in the fourth round.

And yet the former Barcelona man has no problems finding the net when in the red of Chile.

Sanchez’s strike against Ecuador was his second in two games at the Copa America but it was his fourth in four for his country.

The international break in November saw Sanchez score in both friendlies for Chile, against Costa Rica and Honduras.

Chile will now advance to the knockouts but still have to face second-place Uruguay to determine the group winner.

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Sanchez’s scuffed effort was his second goal in as many games[/caption]

AP:Associated Press

Sanchez celebrated the goal wildly as it put Chile into the knockout stages at Copa America[/caption]