Played at Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg (Attendance: 54,096)
Date: Monday, 28 June 2010
Brazil saw off the challenge of a slightly disappointing Chile to seal a mouth-watering quarter-final tie against the Netherlands.Brazil vs Chile Match Report
Brazil's relentless march to the latter stages of the World Cup continued with an effortless 3-0 victory over Chile.
A team combining a potent mix of physique, power and mouthwatering ability were hugely assured in a one-side dismissal of their fellow South Americans to line up a quarter-final with Holland on Friday.
The boys in the famous yellow and blue were in control from virtually the first whistle and goals by Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho confirmed their status as tournament favourites.
It has been no easy run for Brazil - they emerged from a 'Group of Death' unscathed and with reputations enhanced and on this evidence the Dutch will need to summon up the spirits of past greats if they are to challenge Dunga's men.
Kaka remains Brazil's talisman and the Real Madrid midfielder was impressive on his return from suspension, though he managed to pick up his third booking of the tournament after English referee Howard Webb was unimpressed with his trip on a Chile player.
After Juan had opened the scoring, punishing Chile for their failure to deal with Brazil's aerial threat at a corner from Maicon, Kaka was heavily involved in the second goal.
Robinho began the move with a burst down the left and an early ball into Kaka in the middle. One brilliant first-time pass split the Chile central defenders asunder and left Luis Fabiano able to skip past keeper Claudio Bravo and finish.
Credit too to English linesman Michael Mullarkey for a perfect call to judge the Seville striker onside.
The goal made up for Luis Fabiano having dragged his shot wide after being put in the clear by a super ball from Dani Alves.
Brazil had almost drawn first blood earlier through Gilberto Silva, proving in this match and not for the first time that Arsene Wenger committed a rare blunder in disposing of his services two years ago, who hit a fierce long-range effort that Bravo turned aside at full stretch.
Chile's main hope looked to be through the creative instincts of their gifted 21-year-old Alexis Sanchez, a player being watched by a number of Premier League clubs including Manchester United.
The Udinese player certainly provided Brazil with something to think about with a series of decent touches - one lovely pass for Humberto Suazo promised much but the striker did not match up with a disappointing effort to lob Julio Cesar.
Brazil could afford to take their foot off the gas at half-time, so minimal was the threat posed by the Marcelo Bielsa's Chileans, but they still managed to extend their lead.
Robinho was the man to strike just before the hour mark, curling it effortlessly past Bravo but he had Ramires to thank after a blistering run by the Benfica midfielder.
Alves hit a thunderbolt that must have had Bravo worried but it drifted just wide before Jorge Valdivia came as close as Chile had managed to a reply, teeing himself up and then firing just over from the edge of the box.
Kaka nearly claimed the goal his performance deserved after a surge down the left by Michel Bastos but was narrowly off target.
Bravo kept the score respectable by denying Robinho and then Suazo neatly turned Lucio - and not many players have done that this tournament - but Julio Cesar beat away his strike.
The game was up for Chile, however, and Dunga rubbed salt in the wound by taking off Kaka and sending on Kleberson - the player who flopped so dismally at Manchester United - to illustrate Brazil's overwhelming superiority.
Brazil vs Chile line-ups:
Brazil: 1-Julio Cesar; 2-Maicon, 3-Lucio, 4-Juan, 6-Michel Bastos, 18-Ramires, 8-Gilberto Silva, 13-Dani Alves, 10-Kaka, 11-Robinho, 9-Luis Fabiano.
Chile: 1-Claudio Bravo; 4-Mauricio Isla, 5-Pablo Contreras, 2-Ismael Fuentes, 8-Arturo Vidal, 11-Mark Gonzalez, 6-Carlos Carmona, 18-Gonzalo Jara, 9-Humberto Suazo, 15-Jean Beausejour, 7-Alexis Sanchez.
Referee: Howard Webb (England).
Brazil vs Chile Extended Highlights Video 14:56 mins
34 mins GOAL by Juan (Brazil 1-0 Chile)
Maicon wins a corner down the right and takes it himself, swinging it to the edge of the six-yard box where Juan is on hand to thump a header high into the net. Great finish.
38 mins GOAL by Luis Fabiano (Brazil 2-0 Chile)
Robinho takes it forward before playing it across to Kaka, who produces a delightful first-time pass for the onside Luis Fabiano to nonchalantly round the keeper and slot into the empty net.
59 mins GOAL by Brazil 3-0 Chile
The midfielder runs from the halfway line, committing defenders and opening up space on the edge of the box for Robinho, who gloriously curls into the far corner of Claudio Bravo's net.
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