The Chilean team were likely to face a tough test against the 2010 and 2014 runners-up Colombia, who had begun their campaign with a 7-0 success against Uruguay.

Both teams proved evenly matched during the opening half of the tie before Catalina Usme struck four minutes after the break to give Colombia the lead.

The effort also saw Usme move further clear in the top scorer rankings, having now scored five in two matches.

Usme went close to doubling Colombia’s lead shortly afterwards and Chile survived and came on strong in the latter stages.

Camila Saéz drew the host nation level with 10 minutes to play after being found by a Carla Guerrero pass.

The draw leaves Chile in third place in the Group A standings, two points adrift of leader’s Colombia, who have four points.

Colombia top the standings on goal difference from Paraguay, who built on their draw against Chile by beating Peru.

Natalia Peña opened the scoring 25 minutes into the second half of their match, with Jessica Martínez doubling Paraguay’s advantage five minutes before the full-time whistle.

Amanda Peralta added further gloss to the scoreline, adding a third for Paraguay in injury time.

Group B is due to continue tomorrow when holders Brazil go in search of their second victory of the tournament when they meet Ecuador.

Argentina will hope to bounce back from their defeat to Brazil when they face Bolivia, playing their first match of the competition.

The teams are scheduled to play each other once in the group stage in the hope of ending in one of the top two spots, which will put them through to the final stage.

The tournament champion will qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and the Pan American Games in Lima next year.

The second team will also qualify for the World Cup and Pan American Games but will only be given an Olympic qualification playoff spot, where they will come up against an African team.

The third place team will be given a World Cup play-off place, where they would face a team from the Americas and a spot at Lima 2019.

The team bottom of the final table will be out of Olympic and World Cup contention and will have to settle for just a slot at the Pan American Games.