The Tension and Drama of the Knockout Stages is Here!
Brazil 1 Chile 1
Daily Mail UK, 28 June 2014
Quote:
MATCH FACTS:
Brazil: Julio Cesar, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Luiz, Marcelo, Fernandinho, Gustavo, Hulk, Oscar, Neymar, Fred.
Subs: Jefferson, Paulinho, Dante, Maxwell, Henrique, Ramires, Hernanes, Willian, Bernard, Jo, Maicon, Victor.
Chile: Bravo, Mena, Isla, Silva, Alexis, Vidal, Vargas, Medel, Jara, Aranguiz, Diaz.
Subs: Toselli, Albornoz, Carmona, Pinilla, Valdivia, Rojas, Orellana, Beausejour, Gutierrez, Fuenzalida, Paredes, Herrera.
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
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MATCH PLAY REPORT:
Hail Cesar! Brazil scrape through on penalties as QPR reject saves the day to hand hosts ticket into quarter-finals ...
BRAZIL 1-1 CHILE (3-2 ON PENS) - ROB DRAPER IN BELO HORIZONTE: An unthinkable exit loomed but Chile fell apart, scoring just two of their five penalties with Julio Cesar saving from Pinalla and Alexis Sanchez.
......
A pulsating first half. It was end-to-end throughout and was something you would see on a video game.
Brazil have perhaps been the better team but it's level at the break in a game which is being played with high passion from both sides.
Even Fred and Gary Medel were having a few choice words at half-time, and it wasn't about going for a friendly pint after this game judging by their snarls at each other.
From Sportsmail's Matt Lawton in Belo Horizonte
'Another huge mistake, this time by Luiz Gustavo. They get away with it this time but Brazil are living dangerously here.
HALF-TIME: Brazil 1-1 Chil
Headache: Neymar of Brazil receives treatment as head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari of Brazil reacts on the touchline
45+1min: Two added minutes and Chile from out of nowhere nearly equalise! Sanchez this time is creator as he plays a short pass to the near post, but from there Aranguiz is denied from an acute angle before Brazil scramble clear.
43min: It's shoot on sight stuff from Brazil now - and it so nearly pays off. Dani Alves hits a vicious dipping effort from 25 yards out that Bravo has to tip over the crossbar. Had that been either side of the Chile keeper, it looked certain to be a goal.
40min: Here come the yellow cards as Silva is now booked for persistent fouling. Like Mena before him, he would now be suspended for the quarter-final if Chile make it.
38min: You can't take your eyes off this game! A long crossfield ball is superbly controlled by Neymar who gets into a dangerous position inside the box.
The forward eventually squares to Fred who somehow from eight yards out lifts a finish over the bar with a whole goal to aim at. He was under pressure from Bravo and Chile defenders but he must do better.
35min: What are Chile playing at in defence?! Neymar's header takes a slight deflection as it sails wide across goal but Claudio Bravo goes on an adventure from the set-piece.
The corner flown in results in the Chile keeper defending the edge of the box (!) before La Roja eventually clear.
From Sportsmail's Rob Draper in Belo Horizonte
'Or maybe not a long 72 minutes! Incredible self destruction by Brazil. Nerves clearly getting to them.'
From Sportsmail's Matt Lawton in Belo Horizonte:
'All down to Hulk that. Had given the ball away in a dangerous position moments earlier and then does that. Very poor indeed.'
GOAL! Brazil 1-1 CHILE
32min: Meltdown in the Brazil defence! Chile intercept the most casual of throw ins through Vargas, and a short cut-back into the penalty box finds
Alexis Sanchez who with calming ease tucks home a tidy finish across goal and into the bottom corner. Game on!
Agony and ecstasy: Chile's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring an equaliser
30min: Howard Webb should be a poker player as he certainly is keeping his cards close to his chest.
Arturo Vidal is over zealous with a swing at Neymar, who has to take evasive action by flipping over the Chile star's leg.
Again he is down receiving treatment, but he will be okay to continue. Howard Webb is happy to check Neymar is okay before having a word with Vidal.
27min: In fact, Chile have a big problem in that Neymar is constantly getting a run on Francisco Silva during a counter attack.
On this occasion he escapes to reach the penalty box only to make poor contact with his low drive across goal which bobbles well wide (that's more like Diego Costa.)
Pounce: David Luiz (left) of Brazil shoots and scores his team's first goal past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo of Chile
24min: There is a debate over whether it's an own goal, but it doesn't change the fact that Chile need to somehow get involved in this game.
They look a shadow of the side which did a job over Spain, but then Neymar has proven a different test to face instead of the incredibly disappointing Diego Costa.
From Sportsmail's Matt Lawton in Belo Horizonte
'I think my eardrums have just gone.'
From Sportsmail's Rob Draper in Belo Horizonte:
'A frenzy of noise as you can imagine. Mineirao Stadium almost shaking with the level of volume. Very sloppy goal to concede and the Chileans looked somewhat cowed now. It could be a long 72 minutes for them.'
Breakthrough: Brazil's players celebrate after taking the lead against Chile
GOAL! BRAZIL 1-0 Chile
18min: Blimey, I'm surprised the roof hasn't come off in Belo Horizonte! A corner is flicked towards the back post by Thiago Silva, where
David Luiz is there to pounce from close range to score his first goal for his country. The crowd has gone absolutely berserk.
17min: First booking for Chile as Eugenio Mena sees yellow for a deliberate handball.
From former World Cup referee and Sportsmail's Graham Poll
'Ref Howard Webb under huge and unfair pressure to control this tough game without many cards. The competition has been refereed leniently. Neymar getting injured won't help him.
'Webb certainly not a "homer" as he turns down a credible penalty appeal as Hulk is tripped inside the penalty area.'
Going down: Brazil's Neymar is fouled by Chile's Gary Medel (second left)
Early struggles: Neymar of Brazil picked up a knee problem in the opening few minutes but managed to run it off
14min: And the Brazil fans are booing heavily again! This time it's because Hulk fails to win a spot-kick after being pushed to ground by Mauricio Isla. That one looked more convincing but play is waved on.
11min: Should this be a penalty for Chile? It will be a brave ref to give a debatable one against the hosts.
Alexis Sanchez delivers a dangerous low pass into the six-yard box, but Eduardo Vargas isn't there to meet it after appearing to be tripped by David Luiz.
Chile appeal but Brazil fans boo heavily - I would n
9min: Some early concerns for Brazil as Neymar is limping around the pitch. He appears to be having problems with his knee as he has already had some small treatment applied at pitch side.
It's worth keeping an eye on but it looks like he will try and run this one off
6min: That's better - back to the football! Chile clear a Brazil corner, but only as far as Marcelo 25 yards out.
The full-back dummies his shoulder to beat a defender before firing low and narrowly wide with a teasing drive.
Early collision: Charles Aranguiz was caught by a late Fernandinho challenge
3min: I hope that doesn't set the tone for this game. Charles Aranguiz looks in huge trouble as he goes down in agony following a late tackle from Fernandinho, but replays show there was hardly anything in it.
The midfielder is soon back to his feet once he realises Howard Webb will not be handing out any early yellow cards.
Atmopshere building: Chilean and Brazilian players listen to their national anthems before the start of the last 16 tie
Ready to go: The Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte was mainly full of Brazil fans supporting the host nation
.