BRAZIL 1, CHILE 1 (BRAZIL WIN 3-2 ON PENALTIES)
WOODWORK TWICE DENIES CHILE, HULK HAS NORMAL TIME GOAL RULED OUT FOR HANDBALL
An excellent attacking World Cup has delivered once again over two hours and a penalty shootout as Brazil went though on penalties after Hulk’s second half goal was ruled out for handball and Mauricio Pinilla hit the crossbar at the end of extra time.
The game had been heavily anticipated in the last few days and for the first 45 minutes it didn’t disappoint. Both sides wanted a goal and they went about it with gusto – both sides pressed and kept the tempo high.
Gonzalo Jara’s 18th minute own goal had set Brazil on their way, before Alexis Sanchez met Eduardo Varga’s cut back and levelled up the scores in the 32nd minute after Chile pounced on a lax throw-in taken by Marcelo.
Brazil had their chances to go back into the lead throughout the game. Dani Alves’ swerving 25 yard shot was tipped over by Claudio Bravo just before half time.
Hulk thought he had put Brazil ahead once again in the 55th minute but he was deemed to have controlled Marcelo’s cross with his arm before scoring past Bravo.
English referee Howard Webb consulted with Mike Mullarkey, his assistant on the touchline, and ruled the goal out to the derision of many of the watching fans.
Later in the second half it was Brazil’s turn to hold their breath as Julio Cesar saved a shot by Charles Aranguiz.
It was a testament to the work rate of the Chileans that Brazil recorded their lowest pass completion rate in World Cup games at just 69.5% at the end of normal time.
With everything at stake in extra time it was no great surprise that the pace finally dropped but chances for Hulk, Jo and Oscar came and went with Hulk’s 113th minute chance a highlight as Chile ran themselves into the ground.
With seconds to go substitute Mauricio Pinilla could have won it for Chile when he exchanged passes with Sanchez and hit a sweet shot that came back off the bar. Inches lower and it would have sealed certain victory for Chile.
In the end it came down to penalties, and Brazil held their nerve to win the shootout despite misses by Hulk and Willian. Neymar stepped up to take Brazil’s fifth penalty to put them into a potential match winning lead.
Pinilla and Sanchez had missed two earlier spot kicks for Chile and the luckless Jara stepped up and tried to put Chile’s fifth penalty out of Julio Cesar’s reach to his left but could only hit the post which meant Brazil would proceed to the Quarter Finals.
BRAZIL AND CHILE PENALTIES
SCORED: Brazil 1, Chile 0: David Luiz’ long run and confident strike to the left fools Claudio Bravo
MISSED: Brazil 1, Chile 0: Mauricio Pinilla went down the middle and Julio Cesar held his nerve to save it
MISSED: Brazil 1, Chile 0: Willian was nervous and put his penalty wide to the left!
MISSED: Brazil 1, Chile 0: Alexis Sanchez went to the left and Julio Cesar leapt well to save it!
SCORED: Brazil 2, Chile 0: Marcelo’s penalty was good and went in despite Bravo getting a hand to it
SCORED: Brazil 2, Chile 1: Charles Aranguiz blasts it into the roof of the net
MISSED: Brazil 2, Chile 1: Hulk seemed to change his mind and Bravo saved it!
SCORED: Brazil 2, Chile 2: Marcelo Diaz chose to shoot straight down the middle and Julio Cesar dived away
SCORED: Brazil 3, Chile 2: Neymar waited and coolly slotted to the left to put Brazil 1 penalty away
MISSED: Brazil 3, Chile 2: Gonzalo Jara hit the post! Brazil win the shootout!