The Brazilian fan above was certainly happy to see Chile's victory on the pitch a few days ago, but will he be so today? Let's find out.
The first game of the elimination bracket proved to be quite a thriller. There was a lot of back-and-forth action, as well as a lot of good chances. Brazil’s skill players were able to dribble past their men on most occasions, but their crosses were poorly placed and easily intercepted by the skilled Chilean pressure defense. It was surprising to see just how ineffective the Seleção was this match.
Despite having less of the ball than their opponents, La Roja had the better chances through 90 minutes of play. The majority of these chances were on breakaways, as Brazil’s offensive trap failed them. The defenders could not keep up with the speedy Chilean offense, which lends itself well to their aggressive 3-5-2 formation. However, whether through poor play or back luck, they were unable to finish any these chances. Three rang off the posts after beating Brazil’s Rogerio Ceni, leaving Chile with 0 shots on goal after 90 minutes.
In the end, it all came down to a botched play in extra time. In the first period of OT at 103 minutes in, striker Mario Jardel intercepted a defensive cross and put it past Nelson Rios to win the game for the World Cup hosts. If they hadn't won, they'd probably never hear the end of it. Spain certainly won't.
Final result: 1-0 Brazil (OT)
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