WORLD CUP: Brazil penalty joy, Chilean heartache

ROUND OF 16

BRAZIL 1-1 CHILE

BRAZIL WIN 3-2 ON PENS

SATURDAY 28TH JUNE – BELO HORIZONTE

Brazil are the first country through to the quarter-finals after winning a dramatic penalty shootout 3-2 against a valiant Chilean side.

Luis Felipe Scolari’s Brazil got off to a good start in the 18th minute after Thiago Silva deflected Neymar’s corner kick toward the far post. PSG new signing David Luiz was given the goal but Chile defender Gonzalo Jara looked to have touched the ball before it went in.

Just after the half-hour, the Chileans levelled the game up after Eduardo Vargas intercepted Hulk’s pass and found Alexis Sanchez in the area. The Barcelona striker scored from the right side of the penalty area with a shot toward the far post.

Referee Howard Webb was involved in a major piece of controversy when Hulk thought he put Brazil ahead 10 minutes into the second half. However, Webb deemed that the Zenit striker had handballed before slotting the ball home and disallowed the goal. TV cameras proved that the decision was wrong.

Although, Chile were the stronger side in the second half but the host nation held on to force extra-time. Both sides struggled to fashion a better goalscoring chance as energy levels dropped. Chile had the best chance of the extra period, when Mauricio Pinilla crashed a 20-yard strike against the crossbar in the final moments. The game had to be decided with spot kicks and it was Toronto FC goalkeeper Julio Cesar who stood out as the hero, pulling off two saves to see the hosts into the quarter-finals.

Brazil immediately gain advantage of the shoot-out as David Luiz sent Chile keeper Claudio Bravo the wrong way and Mauricio Pinilla saw his effort saved by Julio Cesar. Despite misses from Willian and Hulk, they still came out on top due to Nottingham Forest full-back Gonzalo Jara being the fall guy for Chile.

Jara’s penalty was near perfect, however, the effort bounced out on the wrong side of Julio Cesar’s left-hand post to send the Brazilians into raptures. Brazil has now reached the quarterfinals at the last five World Cups.

TEAMS

BRAZIL: Julio César, Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo, Luiz Gustavo, Fernandinho (Ramires 72), Hulk, Óscar, Neymar, Fred (Jo 63).

GOALS: David Luis 18.

BOOKINGS: Hulk 55, Luis Gustavo 59.

CHILE: Bravo, Silva, Medel, Jara, Isla, Aranguiz, Diaz, Mena, Vidal, Alexis Sánchez, Vargas (Gutiérrez 57).

GOALS: Alexis Sanchez 32.

BOOKINGS: Mena 17, Silva 40.