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FIFA World Cup 2014: Brazil storms into quarterfinals after defeating Chile 3-2

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DC Correspondent
28 Jun 2014 9:24 PM GMT
Shot stopper makes excellent saves to take his team through
FIFA World Cup 2014: Brazil storms into quarterfinals after defeating Chile 3-2
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Brazil's goalkeeper Julio Cesar, top, is congratulated by his teammates after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Chile at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte (Photo: AP)

Belo Horizonte: Hosts Brazil squeezed into the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup after a pulsating 3-2 penalty shootout win over heartbroken Chile at Estadio Mineirao here today. Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez's attempts, while Gonzalo Jara's shot hit the post after the prequarter-final had been locked at 1-1 after extra time.

For five-time winners Brazil, David Luiz, Marcelo and Neymar were the scorers, while Willian and Hulk missed out in the penalty shootout.

Chile, who were bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1962, could have won the match in the last minute of extra-time but Pinilla's shot crashed off the crossbar. Chile were knocked out by Brazil at the same stage in their last two World Cup appearances in 1998 and 2010. The first game of the knockout stage was a gripping affair as both Brazil and Chile battled bravely for the normal time and extra-time but could not break the 1-1 deadlock as the game went to the penalty shoot-out

Luiz opening goal for Brazil

David Luiz put Brazil ahead in the 18th minute when he kneed home after Thiago Silva flicked the ball at the near post following Neymar's corner. Down 0-1, Chile kept the pressure on and it paid off when Brazil made a defensive error on the left, giving the ball away from a throw-in.

Alexis Sanchez made good use of the opportunity as he brought up the equaliser, sending the ball at the bottom corner, beating Thiago Silva and goalkeeper Julio Cesar on the way in the 32nd minute.

Sanchez equalizing goal

Brazil tried to hit back straight away with Neymar rising above his marker to head at goal, but the ball went wide after getting deflected on the way. Neymar made quite a few run in the rival box and could have had a goal or two but he was always crowded out by the Chile defenders. Jorge Sampaoli's side were then forced to weather a storm into half-time that saw a Neymar header deflected past the post and Claudio Bravo tip a powerful 30-yard drive from Daniel Alves over the bar.

Chile looked more comfortable after the restart, even if they had a let-off 10 minutes into the second half when Hulk succeeded in turning the ball into the net with his knee and wheeled away in celebration. Hulk thought he had redeemed himself for his error in Chile's equaliser, but the referee ruled that he had controlled the ball with his arm and brandished a yellow card to the burly forward.

As nerves took hold, Brazil needed Cesar to come to the rescue with a fine reaction save from an Aranguiz shot, while Neymar, so often the hosts' source of genuine inspiration, faded from the game.Instead Hulk came to the forefront. He delivered a glorious cross from the left that Jo, on in place of Fred, could not convert and then stung the palms of Bravo after accelerating into the box. In the first period of extra time, Hulk produced another trademark thunderbolt from 30 yards that was blocked by Bravo.

Chile, meanwhile, seemed happy to take their chances in the lottery of a penalty shoot-out. Pinilla almost won it right at the last, only for the woodwork to rescue Brazil, as it did again from Jara's crucial penalty.

Teams

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Fernandinho, Marcelo, Hulk, Fred, Neymar, Oscar, Luiz Gustavo

Chile: Bravo,Mena, Isla, Silva, Sanchez, Vidal, Vargas, Medel, Jara, Aranguiz, Dias

FIFA World Cup 2014: Check out schedule, match results here

( Source : PTI )
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