Chile and Argentina will play out a rematch of last year's Copa America final after the holders defeated Colombia 2-0 in Chicago.

The Chileans, who won the competition for the first time on home soil last year, followed up on their sensational 7-0 win over Mexico in the quarterfinals to book a spot in their second successive final.

With Chile leading by two goals, a severe thunderstorm forced a delay of almost three hours and the 50,000-or-so supporters to seek shelter indoors. Bayer Leverkusen's Charles Aranguiz had opened the scoring in the seventh minute, before Jose Pedro Fuenzalida gave Juan Antonio Pizzi's side a cushion soon after.

"These players' main virtue is that they are winners. Before they play a match or a tournament, they are convinced that they are going to win it. That conviction allows them to play as they do and to have the confidence they have in games," said the Chile coach, who faced a tough task in replacing Marcelo Bielsa and Jorge Sampaoli.

"We need to admit our bad start, which cost us two goals," said Jose Pekerman, the coach of Colombia. "It's normal for Chile to attack like they did, and we could not control them."

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez secured his 100th international cap as Chile booked their spot in the final for the sixth time. Lionel Messi and Argentina can pull level with Uruguay's record 15 title wins, if they come out on top at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 27.

(DW)