The exciting and high scoring group stages had come to a close and all focus had switched towards the first knockout stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The first game would feature host nations Brazil in a match-up against tournament surprise Chile.
When the draw was made in December surely Brazil had expected to play either Spain or the Netherlands in the round of 16, however Chile had shocked the world by knocking out the defending champions in a stellar display in their 2nd match of the group stage.
Chelsea FC’s Oscar would get the start in midfield for Brazil with former Chelsea teammate David Luiz also starting in the middle of defense for the hosts.
The first 15-20 minutes of the match belonged to the SeleçĂŁo as they looked to use the energy of the home crowd to carry them to a dominating performance.
A first goal in a Brazilian shirt for former Chelsea and future PSG defender David Luiz in the 18th minute seemed to have the hosts set for course and an easy victory. It could be disputed and could easily be changed to an own goal as it looked to come off the defender in the replay. Luiz can claim he may have had the slightest of touches with his thigh to direct it into the back of the net and it didn’t matter as he wheeled away in delight to celebrate putting the hosts ahead.
Chile came into the match not looking to shy away from the occasion and gave their very best effort to make the game difficult for Brazil. Their physical play began to take a toll throughout the rest of the match and helped to even things out a bit in terms of possession.
The match would not be reminiscent of the free-flowing attacking football that spectators had come accustomed to so far at this year’s tournament as the game began to lose its edge. After the goal to put them up 1-0, Brazil looked content to allow Chile to have more possession as they looked to defend and catch Chile out on a break with their speed down the wings.
A mistake from FC Zenit forward Hulk would lead to the only other goal of the match in the 32nd minute for Chile. Hulk would receive a throw-in from Marcelo in the Chilean attacking third and attempt to first touch it back to the Real Madrid fullback. Hulk’s pass would not have enough on it and would be picked up by a chasing Eduardo Vargas whose first time pass from the right wing in towards the near post would pick out FC Barcelona man Alexis Sanchez who would slot it home to the far post to level the score at 1-1 at the break.
As the 2nd half began to unfold it was Chile who asked most of the questions with several half chances nearly giving them the lead. Woes for Brazil at the striker position (Chelsea fans feel your pain Brazil) would continue as Fred would be replaced by Jo in the 64th minute but other than one missed chance in the box the former Manchester City and Everton flop offered the hosts next to nothing going forward.
Hulk must have thought his error was redeemed in the 55th minute when he appeared to put the hosts ahead 2-1. A ball played in to Hulk appeared to be chested down towards his left foot and off his shin in to the goal at the far post. As Hulk wheeled away to celebrate, match referee Howard Webb and his assistant waved off the goal due to an alleged hand ball. The replay showed nothing conclusive to sway neutral opinions in either direction, but the call was given and the score remained 1-1. Hulk appeared to give the slightest of thrusts forward with his arm but it looked to make contact with his armpit more than anything else.
Chelsea FC midfielder Ramires would come on for Manchester City man Fernandinho in the 72nd minute for Brazil to help control play in the middle but didn’t seem to have much effect on proceedings throughout the remainder of the game.
The rest of the 2nd half would play out with both teams offering very little in the way of chances and the first match of the knockout stages of this World Cup sputtered into extra time and penalties.
Both halves of extra time would play out like most of the game had as both teams looked a bit tired and stretched thin. Chelsea FC winger Willian would replace club and country teammate Oscar at half-time of extra time for Brazil. From a Chelsea fan’s perspective it must be said that Oscar was largely missing from this match-up and after a solid first game has really gone missing. Brazil’s chances going forward will rely on Oscar or someone else to step up and provide support in the attacking third.
With both teams reluctant to make a costly mistake the match looked destined to be headed into the lottery of a penalty shootout as tiredness became a factor and both teams slowed down. That was until the 120th minute when a pass played out of the back by future FC Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo found its way on the bounce to his new club teammate Sanchez who would one touch the ball to 87th minute substitute Mauricio Pinilla. Pinilla would carry the momentum towards his right foot and blast a shot towards goal that rocked the crossbar and nearly broke Brazilian hearts at the death.
The game would remain tied and only seconds later the final whistle would sound and the match was headed for the ever dreaded penalty shootout.
Brazil would take first and it would be former Chelsea man David Luiz who would step up for the Seleção. His shot would fly past the wrongfully guessing Bravo to the keeper’s right and into the net.
Pinilla would come forward to take the first of Chile’s 5 spot kicks and his effort would lack power and placement and would easily be tamed by (on-loan) Toronto FC and Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Willian would step up to take the 2nd penalty kick for the hosts and after a beautifully worked stutter-step run up would fake out Bravo and leave the goalkeeper wrong-footed. With the goalkeeper already on his way to the ground all Willian had to do was place the ball into the net but unfortunately the shot was scuffed by the SW6 winger and would go about a foot wide to the left.
Chile’s star player Sanchez would step up for their 2nd kick and with a chance to level things his shot was yet again another tame effort right down the middle that was easily saved by Cesar to keep Brazil ahead 1-0.
After seeing his Barcelona rival miss the kick for Chile, Real Madrid fullback Marcelo stepped up for the third of Brazil’s chances. His shot would go towards the right hand side of goal and a diving Bravo would guess right by diving to his left and barely get a hand on it. Unfortunately for the Chileans it wasn’t enough as the ball bounced up and in off the keeper’s hand to put Brazil up 2-0.
With their backs against the wall the best penalty taken by either team would come on Chile’s third kick when Charles Aranguiz would blast an outstanding shot into the top right hand corner which left Cesar glued to his spot.
With Brazil still ahead 2-1 on penalties it fell to Hulk to keep them ahead as he stepped up to take their 4th of 5 chances. Hulk would telegraph his shot as he opened up his body and slowed down on the run up. Bravo wasn’t fooled and the shot lacked placement. Bravo stood firm and after diving in the right direction but slightly early, was able to get his feet to it and clear the shot for Chile.
Marcelo Diaz would step up to take the 4th attempt for the Chileans and would bring them level with the hosts 2-2 after 4 spot kicks a piece.
So it had come to this, FC Barcelona forward and Brazil poster boy Neymar would step up for Brazil’s 5th kick. He would do his normal stuttering run up, waited for his future Camp Nou teammate to react first and then placed it past him the other direction to put Brazil up 3-2.
Chile’s run at this World Cup would come to a heartbreaking end when Nottingham Forest defender Gonzalo Jara’s well struck effort on their 5th and final chance from the spot would bounce off of the right upright and out to send a very relieved host nation into the quarterfinals.
Chile can hold their heads high after giving Brazil all they could handle for 120 minutes. They came inches away from snatching a shocking result that would have completely turned this tournament on their side. In a game that had 24 fouls in the early stages of the 2nd half, Brazil looked a bit stunned and flat in reaction. The important thing is to advance and Brazil did manage to do that but for the Seleção it has to be worrying that in what will probably be considered their easiest match-up of the knockout stages they had offered very little evidence that they were a team capable of hoisting the trophy in just over 2 weeks at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
