Jun 17, 2014; Fortaleza, Ceara, BRAZIL; Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar (12) dives to make a save as Brazil defender Marcelo (6) and Mexico forward Giovani Dos Santos (10) look on during the first half of the 2014 World Cup game at Estadio Castelao. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
In the first match of the knockout round at the 2014 World Cup, Brazil would be playing host to Chile. The host nation looked to continue a run of good form and advance to the quarterfinals with the ultimate goal of winning their 6th World Cup. In past meetings Brazil had knocked Chile out of the World Cup three times before, most recently dismissing them from South Africa in 2010. Chelsea’s number 11 Oscar started in midfield, while Ramires and Willian were on the substitutes bench.
The atmosphere was electric to start, with the stadium being a cauldron of Brazil yellow as is the case whenever they’ve taken the pitch in this tournament. 5 minutes in the first hard foul was committed in the all South American affair, as Neymar made a run between two defenders and hit the turf quickly for his trouble.
In the 18th minute, former Chelsea defender and soon-to-be Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz scored his first goal for Brazil, a cross into the box was redirected by Thiago Silva to Luiz, and the ball caromed in off his leg, initially it seemed to be on own goal off of Chile’s Gonzalo Jara, but further rulings indicated it was ruled the defenders first for the Seleção. Luiz certainly celebrated as if the goal was his.
Neymar seemed to be trying to bait the Chilean players in the first half by consistently making a meal of every little bump and touch he received. The young forward is the focal point of Brazil’s offense, one might wonder if was hoping to take some pressure off himself by coming up “injured” after every bit of contact. For neutral fans, it could be seen as a point of derision, as it got a bit too theatrical.
Alexi Sanchez did his best to quiet Brazil and its fans, scoring in the 32nd minute to send Chilean fans wild and the Brazilians holding their heads in despair. Hulk’s mistake led to Sanchez being with space in a dangerous area, and he fired a rocket past Julio Cesar for his 24th goal for Chile. Shortly after the goal, Neymar nearly silenced his critics again off a cross from Alves, but his surely taken header was just misdirected by a Chile defender.
Halftime ended with a bit of a feisty mood, as Chile nearly went ahead but it ended level 1-1 after the first 45 minutes. Oscars passing didn’t seem as efficient as it has before, but the young number 11 did create 2 scoring chances for Brazil, and Neymar looked dangerous as well. Vidal and Sanchez were the motors keeping Chile running again, who surely thought they had a chance to end their streak of losses against Brazil after a strong first half.
54 minutes in, Brazil seemed to have broken the deadlock with a long pass on was controlled by Hulk off initially looked like his shoulder, then directed a side footed shot past the keeper and into the net; however referee Howard Webb waived the goal off on calling it a handball. Hulk was shown a yellow card for his troubles.
The denial of the goal seemed to deflate the Brazilians, and Chile looked the more dangerous side for much of the second half. In the 71st minute, Chelsea’s midfielder Ramires came on for Fernandinho, hoping to make an impact for Brazil.
Late on Brazil had multiple chances inside the box that were just saved or poorly finished kept Chile’s hopes alive and fueled the growing fear and uneasy feeling among the Brazilian fans. Hulk had improved a lot in the 2nd half, and definitely seemed likely to score but had multiple chances denied by keeper Claudio Bravo. Brazil just seemed to fall short late on as the pressure built. Many supporters and pundits picked Brazil as a favorite to win the tournament, but after the regulation 90 minutes were played Chile seemed to be a better side, and it remained 1-1 after regulation.
EXTRA TIME
Jo was shown a yellow early on in extra time when he collided with the keeper on a slow bouncing ball into the 18 yard box, which he nearly successfully put past him and into the net, the Chilean defenders took exception to the foul but nothing came of it. A cross from Hulk in the 101st minute was strongly headed on towards goal, but it was directly at the keeper and kept out.
As extra time unfolded, Brazil was pushing forward, while Chile seemed content to wait for penalty kicks to decide their fate. Brazil’s lack of a true center forward seemed to be getting to them, Fred was ineffective and after Jo replaced him the struggles still continued from the number 9 role (something Chelsea fans surely empathize with).
Oscar was replaced by his Chelsea teammate Willian for the second half of extra time, meaning if it came to penalty kicks a key Brazil player would not be able to take one. Oscar did not have his best game, but played hard and created a few chances early on. Willian would be looking to inject life into Brazil and hope to take advantage of some sluggish legs by Chile.
Predictably after 115+ minutes, the game began to slow down as players started to lose their ability to continue large runs. Passes were sloppy, first touches poor. Chile was ready to take it to penalty kicks, Brazil was pushing but hesitant to rush men forward to avoid conceding on a counter attack. 119th minute, Pinilla played a brilliant give and go with Alexis Sanchez, and Pinilla’s shot clanged hard off the crossbar, nearly ending Brazil’s tournament.
The match ended 1-1 after regulation. 1-1 after extra time. It would come down to the cruel method of penalty kicks.
Penalty Kicks:
1-0: David Luiz, who scored a brilliant penalty in the 2012 Champions League final for Chelsea would shoot first, he scored the same way he did in Munich.
1-0: Pinilla went first for Chile, and Julio Cesar saved his attempt!
1-0: Willian came next: his shot went wide!
1-0: But Alexis Sanchez had his shot saved by Julio Cesar as well!
2-0: Marcelo had his shot tipped by the keeper, but it was too strong and the attempt scored anyway
2-1: A strong attempt by Aranguiz was easily buried, keeping Chile alive.
2-1: Hulk stepped up next, and his was saved by Bravo! Still Alive, at 2-1.
2-2: Chile’s 4th shot was a chance to level the score, and Diaz came in and does just that, putting it past Cesar.
3-2: Neymar would shoot last in the regulation PKs for Brazil. He stepped up, took his normal run up, and buried the attempt.
3-2: Jarra came up needing to score to carry on PKs, but his shot was tipped off the bar and Brazil were through!
This was quite the first match of the knockout round, plenty of emotion and plenty of exciting moments. Chile played a brilliant game, but the host nation was able to keep marching on!
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