Cuiaba: Alexis Sanchez helped Chile pile the pressure on world champions Spain after a 3-1 win over Australia in their World Cup opener in Cuiaba saw them join the Netherlands on top of Group ‘B’.
Sanchez set Chile on their way early on, the Barcelona star turning provider 70 seconds later to set up Jorge Valdivia.
Tim Cahill pulled one back before half-time with Wigan Athletic’s Jean Beausejour grabbing a third for Chile in injury time of a pulsating encounter. But following Spain’s 5-1 rout by the Dutch earlier in Salvador, the reigning champions almost certainly must beat Chile in Rio on June 18 to avoid an ignominious early exit.
Australia coach Ange Postecoglou was left ruing his side’s poor start. “I thought we could get something out of this game. But Chile began strongly, their two goals made life difficult. For much of the second half we were on top,” he said.
His opposite number Jorge Sampaoli praised Sanchez’s contribution, and conceded that with Spain looming his side would need to build on this performance. “There were positives for us here but Spain have a superlative history, and we will have to be able to perform better,” he said.
