FIFA World Cup 2010, Round of 16: Brazil vs Chile - First Half Report
Brazil gave Chile quite the football lesson in the first half of their Round of 16 match. Juan headed in the first goal from a corner, and just minutes later, a breathtaking move led to Luis Fabiano’s goal. Brazil go into half time with one foot in the quarterfinals.
It was a nice start for Chile, as Alexis Sanchez enjoyed some decent early touches and Jean Beausejour had a cross blocked behind for a corner, but Brazil cleared their lines.
Moments later, there was a glorious pass from midfield from Dani Alves, that got Luis Fabiano into space for Brazil, but from the right of the Chile area he dragged badly wide of the far post.
Gilberto Silva piled a right-foot shot goal wards from 30 yards and Claudio Bravo made a decent save. Moments later, Robinho could not quite control a cross and then Kaka fired wide from the edge of the box.
Dani Alves was in his element, exchanging passes with Robinho and Kaka. Chile finally got hold of the ball; Alexis Sanchez played a gorgeous ball through for Humberto Suazo and he decided to take it first time from 22 yards, trying to lob it over Julio Cesar, but lifted it only into the Inter Milan goalkeeper's arms.
After 5 minutes, Ramires hit one from 25 yards, but Claudio Bravo got everything behind it. Brazil were playing extremely well, but a goal was missing till then. However, Chile did get in the game to some degree and started getting more possession.
West Brom's Gonzalo Jara tried his luck from 30 yards, but it flew long way wide of Julio Cesar's goal.
Jean Beausejour's wild left-foot shot from 25 yards took a deflection off Maicon and Chile got a corner, but there was some pushing on Lucio and a free-kick resulted. The big defender was furious and Howard Webb had to tell him to calm down.
Lucio had hardly calmed down, when during another corner from Brazil, Lucio appeared to be fouled by Pablo Contreras. Referee Howard Webb only gave them another corner.
And the corner resulted in the game opener. It might not be the greatest Brazilian goal, but do you think they care? Maicon won a corner down the right and took it himself, swinging it to the edge of the six-yard box where Juan was on hand to thump a header high into the net. It was a great finish, but it has to be said marking was nonexistent.
The goal looked to have given immense confidence to Brazil, and just three minutes later, Chile left themselves open down the Brazil left flank, and from then on they had serious problems. Robinho took it forward before playing it across to Kaka, who produced a delightful first-time pass for the onside Luis Fabiano to nonchalantly round the keeper and slot into the empty net.
2 nil with 7 minutes to go in the first half, Chile, who lost to Brazil in their last 5 World Cup encounters, were well on their way to a 6th consecutive defeat.
The 2nd half is expected to be pretty much the same; Chile may fight back and offer some resistance, but Brazil are expected to knock in at least a couple of goals more.
Tags: