Argentina struggles into Copa quarters

Argentina marked Lionel Messi's 100th cap with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Jamaica to reach the Copa America quarterfinals as group winner on Saturday as holder Uruguay also advanced to the last eight.

Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain rifled home the only goal for Argentina as the tournament favorite downed the Reggae Boyz in Vina del Mar to clinch top spot in Group B ahead of Paraguay and Uruguay.

But it was another patchy performance from the 2014 World Cup quarterfinalist, who struggled to break down a team ranked 62 places below it in the latest FIFA standings.

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino blamed weariness for his side's disjointed performance, and said his squad was looking forward to some rest in the six-day break before next Friday's quarterfinal.

"The first half was OK. We played fine and we scored quickly and created five or six chances to score," Martino said.

"At the end though it was a bit tedious but we did what was necessary. Physically we struggled a bit in the second half."

Argentina will play either Ecuador or the third-placed team from Group C in the last eight.

"There are things to fix," Martino said. "We've got six days' rest now before the quarterfinals and I think we need them.

"We've had three matches in a week so it's been a tough schedule."

Jamaica's players meanwhile celebrated a brave performance against one of the powerhouses of international soccer.

At the final whistle, striker Deshorn Brown posed for a selfie with Argentina skipper Messi, who was unable to mark his century of caps with a goal.

The Barcelona superstar meanwhile was happy to swap the jersey from his 100th international appearance with Jamaican midfielder Jobi McAnuff, who plays in the fourth tier of the English soccer league system.

Jamaica captain Rodolph Austin said he was proud of his team's performances in Chile, as it headed home from the tournament after three consecutive 1-0 defeats in the first round.

Restricting Argentina to only Higuain's 11th-minute strike was a particular source of satisfaction for Jamaica, one of two teams invited to take part in the South American showpiece from North America, Central America and Caribbean region.

"I'm proud of the team. We maybe showed them a little bit too much respect in the first half and we didn't come at them and press them enough," the midfielder said.

"But to come here and lose by only one goal against a side like Argentina is a good result for us."

Earlier on Saturday, Uruguay made sure of its place in the last eight from Group B after battling to a 1-1 draw with Paraguay in a rematch of the 2011 final.

Uruguay secured the point it needed to advance after taking the lead through Jose Maria Gimenez before Paraguay equalized on the stroke of halftime with a goal from Lucas Barrios.

Paraguay was already guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds after results elsewhere on Friday, when Ecuador's win over Mexico in Group A ensured it would qualify.

Uruguay took the lead after 29 minutes through Gimenez, who rose high to meet a corner from Carlos Sanchez with a powerful downward header.

But Paraguay hit back shortly before halftime with a set-piece goal of its own, Barrios heading home Edgar Benitez's corner.