Chile 2 - Spain 0

Photo by Jamie Squire

Spain looked to recover their mojo in Rio de Janeiro as they faced off against Chile. The two teams met in the group stage at South Africa, with Spain winning 2-1 on that occasion. Chile nearly grabbed a first-minute lead, but Eduardo Vargas (pictured, white #11) refused to attack a pass to him inside the box, and his attempt was easily blocked. Gonzalo Jara had a free header on the resulting corner kick, but he missed wide of target. Xabi Alonso nearly gave Spain a lead on a scramble in the box, but Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo came up with a save as he charged out to within one yard of Alonso. Chile found the opener on the counteract. A ball from Alexis Sanchez put Charles Aranguiz on the ball in a two-on-two situation for Chile. Aranguiz drew both defenders and passed to Vargas, who cut back to shake Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas to open up the net and knock home the first goal. A Sanchez free kick with only two minutes left in the half turned into yet another Chilean goal. Casillas elected to punch the ball back into the box rather than parry it to the side, so Aranguiz pounced on the rebound and scored. Chile led 2-0 at halftime.

Spain looked like they wanted to mount a comeback in the early portion of the second period. Andres Iniesta hit a through ball to Diego Costa, but Costa's shot was blocked by Chilean right back Mauricio Isla. Later, Costa attempted a bicycle kick. His shot landed wide of frame, and Sergio Busquets was unable to turn the rebound on frame for Spain. After that, Spain created little until they substituted Santi Cazorla on the pitch. Before then, Chile could have had a third. Vargas pass to Aranguiz, who pulled a shot off frame. Isla was unable to knock the ball in at the back post as he skied the attempt. Cazorla came on and proceeded to curl a bouncing shot that Bravo saved. Later, Bravo did a leaping punch off an Iniesta shot. Spain's last chance was a low-bouncing Cazorla free kick that Bravo parried away. Chile hold on and win 2-0, their first victory over Spain in eleven encounters. With this result, both Spain and Australia are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Chile and Netherlands will play for the Group B title in their next match. Chile need a win whereas Netherlands need only a draw to win the group.

Netherlands IN 6 pts +5
Chile IN 6 pts +4
Australia OUT
Spain OUT

Goals
Chile
Eduardo Vargas 20
Charles Aranguiz 43

Match Reports:
http://soccer.si.com/planet-futbol/2014/06/18/spain-chile-world-cup-commentary-recap-group-b
http://www.espnfc.com/spain/story/1893056/spaniards-stunned-by-2-0-world-cup-loss-to-chile
http://soccer.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/06/18/spain-out-world-cup-chile-brazil

Highlights:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186498/index.html

Netherlands 3 - Australia 2

Photo by Jeff Gross

Netherlands looked to extend their lead atop Group B as they took on Australia today in Porto Alegre. Australia were the much more assertive team from the opening whistle. Mathew Leckie was taking defenders on the dribble, and one move completely baffled Dutch centerback Bruno Martins Indi. Leckie slotted across the eighteen-yard box for Mark Bresciano, and only a timely block from Stefan de Vrij protected the goal. From a rather innocuous loose ball won, Netherlands winger Arjen Robben picked up the ball at midfield and was allowed to run all the way into the Australian penalty area. Only one defender was back, and Robben barely detected his presence as he slotted home for the opener. The Australian response was immediate. A lengthy cross was first-timed from forty yards away from its intended target by Ryan McGowan. Tim Cahill found himself on the end of it, and he sublimely struck a swinging volley in off the underside of the crossbar to tie the match at 1-1 with what could be the best goal of Brasil 2014 when it is all said and done. Leckie made another incisive run ten minutes later and got free along the right flank. His pass across the box rolled into the path of an onrushing Bresciano, but Bresciano could not keep his shot on frame. Toward the end of the half, Cahill drew a yellow card on a challenge against Martins Indi. Martins Indi had to be taken off the field with an injury. Cahill will be suspended for Australia's next game due to yellow card accumulation. The sides left the field of play tied at 1-1.

Robin van Persie raised an errant hand to the face of Matthew Spiranovic (pictured, yellow) early in the second half, earning him a yellow card and a suspension for Netherlands' next game. Oliver Bozanic had just been subbed onto the pitch by Australia, and his first contribution was to kick a ball off the hand of Daryl Janmaat to draw a penalty kick. Australia converted the spot kick for a shocking 2-1 lead. Nigel de Jong lost the ball at midfield under pressure. Cahill picked up the ball and set up Matt McKay on the break. McKay hit a cross toward Cahill at the back post, but de Vrij headed out for a corner kick. This lead was just as short lived as Netherlands' early lead. A revitalized Oranje slipped the offside trap pulled by the Socceroos. Left back Jason Davidson kept van Persie onside on the through ball from upfield. With no centerbacks in the area due to the attempted offside trap, van Persie had no pressure on his finish and he coolly smacked the ball home for 2-2. A pathetic clearance by Ron Vlaar put Australia in with a chance on goal. Tommy Oar chose to cross for Leckie in the box, but all Leckie could do was weakly chest the ball to the goalkeeper with the majority of the goal wide open. Immediately on the other end, Memphis Depay had a go from distance that took a low bounce and skipped under the arms of a diving Australia goalkeeper Maty Ryan to put Netherlands ahead 3-2. Only after they had secured the lead did Netherlands start really applying heaps of pressure upon Australia. van Persie held the ball up in the box as a pivot forward. He found a pass for Nigel de Jong, but Ryan was able to make the save from de Jong's attempt. Jeremain Lens had a chance to flatter Netherlands by scoring in stoppage time, but Ryan made a good reaction save. Nevertheless, Netherlands hold on and win 3-2 to all but stamp their ticket to the knockout stage.

Netherlands 6 pts +5
Chile 3 pts +2
Australia 0 pts -3
Spain 0 pts -4

Goals
Netherlands
Arjen Robben 20
Robin van Persie 58
Memphis Depay 68

Australia
Tim Cahill 21
Mile Jedinak 54 PK

Match Reports:
http://soccer.si.com/planet-futbol/2014/06/18/netherlands-australia-world-cup-commentary-recap-group-b
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=oranje-edge-five-goal-thriller-2375665.html

Highlights:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186478/index.html

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

Netherlands 5 - Spain 1

Photo by Paul Gilham

In the much anticipated rematch of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final match, defending champions Spain took the field in Salvador to combat Netherlands. The Oranje, wearing blue today, were heartbroken before the tournament by the dual losses of midfielders Rafael van der Vaart and Kevin Strootman. A misplayed chest trap by Spanish left back Jordi Alba (pictured, white #18) sprung a quick through ball from Arjen Robben (pictured, blue). Wesley Sneijder was in behind the Spanish defense, but his effort was struck directly at Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas for a simple save. Spain, as always, hogged the majority of the possession, but Netherlands were keen to catch the champions on the break. Netherlands were made to pay for their risky three-man backline time and again by well-placed through ball from Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta. He found Brasil-born, Brasil-capped striker Diego Costa, who feinted and got Stefan de Vrij to slide at the ball. When Costa cut back, he was tripped inside the box. The fans were already booing Costa's every touch, and the penalty call he drew only exacerbated the derision. Spain converted the penalty kick for a 1-0 lead. Iniesta again picked the Dutch backline apart with a through ball with less than five minutes left in the opening period. David Silva tried to chip Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. but was denied by his fingertips. The Oranje immediately made Spain pay for their profligacy. An exceptional long cross from just inside midfield from Daley Blind found a streaking Robin van Persie. Launching his head forward like a guided missile toward the ball, van Persie popped a beautiful header over an off-his-line Casillas to even the score at one goal apiece. The halftime score was Netherlands 1, Spain 1.

By the second half, the rain was pouring hard in Salvador. Another lovely lofted cross from Blind this time found itself in the path of Robben. Patience was a virtue for the virtuoso inside the penalty area. He cut back off his right foot and shook his marker Gerard Pique, opening up a left-footed shot that he buried in spite of the challenge from Sergio Ramos (pictured, white #15) to give Netherlands a 2-1 lead. The Dutch counterattack was quite impactful on this night. van Persie had another shot at glory, this time smashing the crossbar from the top right side of the penalty area.  Within ten minutes, the lead was doubled. A Sneijder free kick from the left flank sailed to the back post. Casillas could not punch the ball as van Persie blocked his path. de Vrij rose above the challenge of Cesar Azpilicueta to head the ball down off his own foot and into the goal as he crashed into the far post with his body. The champions were down 3-1. Netherlands defender Bruno Martins Indi used his body to block a shot from Silva, but in the scramble, a cross came into to Pedro Rodriguez. Cillessen dropped down quickly to block the shot, and Silva was offside on the rebound. Casillas's nightmare continued as he got caught in possession by van Persie, who then slotted home into an open net for a 4-1 lead. Netherlands found a fifth as Sneijder sent a booming clearance turned through ball from his defensive third that led to Robben latching on and running out ahead of Ramos in the open field. Robben then cut back, got Casillas on the ground, and then rocketed the ball into the net for 5-1. Casillas made a world-class double save on Giorginio Wijnaldum and Robben with five minutes to go, but by then his defenders had little to no motivation to try and prevent the side from hemorrhaging more goals. Rodriguez worked hard for a late two-on-one against Cillessen, but he passed across the face of goal to Fernando Torres. Instead of tapping in first time with his left foot, Torres foolishly try to take a touch and tap in with his right, giving Cillessen time to recover and prevent a second goal.  Netherlands win the match in absolutely shocking fashion 5-1 to grab a hold atop Group B.

Goals
Netherlands
Robin van Persie 44, 72
Arjen Robben 53, 80
Stefan de Vrij 65

Spain
Xabi Alonso 27 PK

Match Reports:
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/1879099/van-gaal-makes-del-bosque-suffer
http://soccer.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/06/13/netherlands-spain-world-cup-three-thoughts-rvp-casillas-robben-costa
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/1879614/renovation-work-needed-for-sorry-spain

Highlights:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186510/index.html