Chile 3 - Australia 1

Photo by Cameron Spencer

Chile opened their Brasil 2014 campaign in Cuiaba against the team picked nearly unanimously to finish last in Group B, Australia. Perhaps the combination of retirements in the past year after qualifying (Mark Schwarzer, Harry Kewell, Brett Holman) and the cuts of both starting centerbacks (Sasa Ognenovski, captain Lucas Neill) would galvanize the remaining Socceroos. Chile were buoyed by the healthy return of Arturo Vidal for the start of the tournament finals.  The divide in quality between the two sides was apparent from the opening whistle. Chile were simply too much for Australia to handle with their inexperienced side. Alexis Sanchez drove up the middle and laid the ball off for Charles Aranguiz. Aranguiz maneuvered by Jason Davidson (pictured, yellow) on the right flank and got right to the goalmouth, drawing Australia goalkeeper Maty Ryan out of position. A quick pass back up the field led to a goal by shot. The rebound found its way back to Sanchez, and he pounced on the chance to give Chile the game's first goal. A couple minutes later, the lead was two. Sanchez again spliced the defense apart and then laid a ball off for Jorge Valdivia in the half circle. Valdivia cracked a shot off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-0. At this point, Chile put on a display of arrogant football, making superfluous passes in the final third in order to increase their "wow" factor. They soon were punished for their hubris. Chilean left back Eugenio Mena could not be bothered to defend a run up the left side of his defense, so he simply allowed Ivan Franjic to hit an unguarded cross. The cross found the head of the best header of the ball in world football: Tim Cahill. Cahill made no mistake with the finish after outleaping Chilean centerback Gary Medel, and suddenly Australia were within one. The scoreboard at the half read Chile 2, Australia 1.

Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo mad an absolutely spectacular save on a low shot from Mark Bresciano, stabbing the ball off the line with his hands though the ball had gotten behind his body. Sanchez made a cutting run through the middle of the Australian backline and then pushed a ball across for Eduardo Vargas. Vargas toe-poked a shot around the onrushing Ryan and the ball was slowly heading into the open net until Alex Wilkinson made a clearance off the line to keep Australia within striking distance. In stoppage time, Chile flattered themselves by scoring a third goal. Charles Aranguiz passed across to substitute Mauricio Pinilla, whose saved was well saved by Ryan. However, the rebound came out to the top of the eighteen-yard box, and substitute Jean Beausejour hit a remarkable rolling strike into bottom corner at the far post. Chile win 3-1.

Netherlands 3 pts +4
Chile 3 pts +2
Australia 0 pts -2
Spain 0 pts -4

Goals
Chile
Alexis Sanchez 12
Jorge Valdivia 14
Jean Beausejour 90+2

Australia
Tim Cahill 35

Match Reports:
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/1879232/three-points-chile-edge-Australia
http://www.espnfc.us/team/australia/628/blog/post/1879662/new-wave-of-aussies-growing-up
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2014/06/14/world-cup-2014-group-stage-day-2/ (Daily Summary)

Highlights:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186473/index.html