BRAZIL 1-1 (3-2 SO) CHILE
After 120+ minutes of soccer, a matter of inches is all that separated these two teams. And in the end, it's Chile who head home in an absolutely crushing loss, while an entire nation rejoices that their host country has another game to play in this World Cup.
It was also a highlight performance from a Brazilian player who many felt was done when he moved to MLS to play for Toronto FC after losing his job in Europe.
It was a raucous atmosphere at kickoff and the Brazilian fans nearly had the chance to blow the roof off in the early minutes. The ball fell to Marcelo on the edge of the area off a Brazilian set piece but his strike could not curl inside the far post.
All Brazil in the first half, Hulk and Neymar played together on the left wing and time and again were able to get past Gary Medel who was an injury doubt in this game.
Brazil deservedly found the scoresheet in the 18th minute. Neymar's corner kick was flicked by Thiago Silva to the back post and redirected in by David Luiz. Appeared to be an own goal by Gonzalo Jara but review showed it did go off Luiz last for his first ever international goal.
Neymar again was able to get past the Chile defence in the 26th but his left foot let him down (not for the first time this game) as his shot on a partial break tumbled well wide of goal.
Not the strongest of halves for Chile but they capitalized when given the chance. A poor touch by Hulk on a throw in deep in the Brazil end led to a turnover. Eduardo Vargas played Alexis Sanchez towards goal and Sanchez neatly struck the ball past Julio Cesar and inside the far post to silence the crowd and make it a 1-1 game.
Both sides had chances on goal in the remainder of the half but no one got closer then Neymar who saw a header deflect just outside the post from in close.
After a frantic opening 45 minutes, the game slowed down considerably in the Belo Horizonte heat. Brazil appeared to take the lead through Hulk in the 55th minute but he was ruled as having used an arm to bring the ball in to possession and his goal was disallowed and a yellow card issued. Chile responded in the 64th minute but Charles Aranguiz's strike from close range was punched off the line by Cesar. Nothing else was doing for the second half and the first knockout round game became the first in this World Cup to play over 90 minutes.
With both teams clearly exhausted, the game slowed even more in the extra time period. Hulk and Jo were both able to pick up chances for Brazil in the period but were turned away by Claudio Bravo.
With the game appearing destined for penalty kicks, Mauricio Pinilla nearly broke the heart of the entire Brazilian nation. Played through by Sanchez in the 120th minute, Pinilla eluded his man but fired a shot in to the crossbar of the Brazilian goal. It would be the last chance on goal of the extra period.
In to penalty kicks, it was Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar that was the star. Cesar saved the first two Chilean shots and after Marcelo scored on the 3rd Brazil shot, it appeared Brazil would carry that 2-0 lead to victory. 2 Chilean goals and a Hulk miss later though, it was back to 2-2 with 1 shooter each remaining. Neymar calmly put his ball away leaving the game in the hands of Chile's Gonzalo Jara. Jara's strike caromed off the post (Cesar might have saved it anyway) and ricocheted across goal and out the other side of the field, giving Brazil the penalty kick victory.
Gut-wrenching defeat for Chile who you could argue were the better team in this game for long stretches of play.
Goals
Brazil: David Luiz (18')
Chile: Alexis Sanchez (32')
Penalty Kicks:
Penalty Kicks:
- David Luiz (BRA) scored.
- Mauricio Pinilla (CHI) saved by Julio Cesar.
- Willian (BRA) missed.
- Alexis Sanchez (CHI) saved by Julio Cesar.
- Marcelo (BRA) scored.
- Charles Aranguiz (CHI) scored.
- Hulk (BRA) saved by Claudio Bravo.
- Marcelo Diaz (CHI) scored.
- Neymar (BRA) scored.
- Gonzalo Jara (CHI) missed.
Discipline
Brazil: Hulk (Yellow 55'), Luiz Gustavo (Yellow 60' - Misses next game), Jo (Yellow 93'), Dani Alves (Yellow 105+1')
Chile: Eugenio Mena (Yellow 17'), Francisco Silva (Yellow 40'), Mauricio Pinilla (Yellow 102')
Man of the Match
Julio Cesar was Man of the Match after a brilliant goalkeeping display in the penalty shootout. Saved the first 2 Chilean shots and likely would have gotten a hand to Jara's ball if it hadn't been off the post.People questioned Cesar's form before this tournament. There should be no doubters now. Cesar the hero in Brazil and keeps their hopes of a 6th championship alive.
Key Moment
Never allow a game to go to penalty kicks. In the last minute of extra time, Mauricio Pinilla was able to break away from Thiago Silva for a free shot in front of goal. Pinilla's rocket completely beat Julio Cesar but rose too quickly and rang back out in to play off the crossbar. It would have been a certain victory for Chile at that point. Instead they head home in heartbreak.
What we learned from Brazil
Have better goalkeeping then anyone expected but may have picked up their last victory of the tournament. Shoddy handling of the ball in their defensive third led to the Chile goal and nearly cost Brazil again on multiple opportunities. Had the nice goal off the set piece but Chile took Neymar out of the game and their offence had nothing going as a result. Neither Fred or Jo are of the calibre of their teammates and that lack of striker play is what will ultimately end Brazil's run at some point.
What we learned from Chile
Don't know if they ran out of gas or not (it sure looked like it) but they let off in extra time which hurt them. Had Brazil on the ropes in the second half but couldn't finish them off and let Brazil back in to the game. Thought they were too reliant on the long ball to Sanchez to set up offensive chances. Brazil weren't pressuring overly heavily so not sure why they weren't trying to work midfield unless they wanted to make sure they had players back to defend.
Chile head home, eliminated by Brazil in the Round of 16 for the second straight World Cup. Brazil will play next on July 4th against either Colombia or Uruguay.
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