Brazil 1(3) -1(2) Chile The Favorite Were On The Brink Of Elimination

Brazil 1(3) -1(2) Chile The Favorite Were On The Brink Of Elimination

Ultimately They Got Better Luck On The Penalty Kicks

Julio Cesar Holding Off Alexis Sanchez Penalty Kick

Amidst a sea of red and yellow in Belo Horizonte, Chilean hearts were broken as the hosts Brazil narrowly won on penalties 3-2 with former Nottingham forest defender Gonzalo Jara missing the key, final penalty.

Brazil started with a similar team to the previous matches but Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho made his first start of the World Cup, while Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez – who may have played his last game for the Catalans – started in attack for Chile.

Brazil 1(3) -1(2) Chile The Favorite Were On The Brink Of Elimination

The hosts were on top straight away and broke the deadlock within 17 minutes as David Luiz appeared to knock the ball over the line from a corner but Chile pegged Brazil back as their pressing finally paid off and Alexis Sanchez scored to equalise on half an hour.

Brazil started well with a whole country firing behind them. Neymar made a couple of early breaks with pace but his main impact on the game came on 17 minutes. His corner was flicked on by Thiago Silva towards Luiz at the back post who appeared to bundle the ball over the line. He appeared in complete shock but the roof was raised in Belo Horizonte.

Chile were back level just 13mins later though as Marcelo and Hulk messed up from a throw-in next to their own penalty area. A loose ball back into the 18-yard box was pounced on by Sanchez, who calmly passed the ball into the far corner to level the game.

Neymar was Brazil’s main threat and almost gave them an instant lead after a flying header was deflected wide. This game has had it all so far. He unlocked the Chileans again a couple of minutes later, dribbling through two players and creating a chance for Fred, who skied his shot.

The Favorite Were On The Brink Of Elimination

As half-time edged closer, Chile were pushing forward with real threat and Sanchez was cutting them to pieces. This was utterly mesmerising, full of entertainment and at least another 45 minutes to go.

On 54 minutes, the roof had erupted once again as Hulk controlled a deep cross and sliced his finish into the far corner. He ran away celebrating but Howard Webb spotted his linesman’s flag, disallowed the goal and booked the Zenit man for handball. A huge call.

Around the hour mark, Chile were looking in control with Julio Cesar making a point-blank save from Charles Aranguiz. The hosts looked a little flat after the disallowed goal.

Little under 10 minutes remaining on the clock, the hosts had pushed Chile back and the off-form Hulk found some magic in his boots, dancing past two players and forcing a brilliant save from Claudio Bravo in the Chile net. This is tense, really tense.

Chile had one last chance before the game turned into extra time as Sanchez’s corner flew through the Brazil penalty area and out the other end for a throw-in. After 90 minutes of drama and tension, this game headed into another half-hour of football.

A third of the way into extra-time, both sides were clearly running on fumes with Chile’s high pressing slowing down and a lot of sloppy passes finding the wrong target in midfield. Hulk danced down the right wing and dinked a cross into Oscar whose header was easily collected by Bravo.

Willian made his way onto the pitch in place of his Chelsea teammate Oscar with 15 minutes of action left and both sides still locked at 1-1.

 On The Brink Of Elimination Brazil 1(3) -1(2) Chile 

The game had now become nitty gritty with lots of stoppages and both sides seemingly headed to a penalty shootout. There was still time for drama though as 30 seconds remaining in normal time, Mauricio Pinilla played a neat one-two with Sanchez and smashed hit shot against the crossbar. Brazil were inches away from elimination.

And with that, we headed into penalties.

Brazil just edged through, winning 3-2, after Chile missed three penalties through Pinilla, Sanchez and, ultimately, Gonzalo Jara, who hit the post. Neymar, Luiz and Marcelo scored for the hosts in the most dramatic of finishes.