Brazil 3 Chile 0 - Brazil ease past Chile and into a quarter-final clash with Holland
Robinho(credit:
Wikipedia)
Brazil will face Holland in the World Cup quarter-finals following an impressive 3-0 victory over Chile.
Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho were all on target for the Brazilians, while at the other end goalkeeper Julio Cesar made some fine stops to ensure a convincing scoreline.
Kaka was returned to the Brazil starting XI following his suspension for a contentious red card against the Ivory Coast, and there were also recalls for Robinho and Ramires.
Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa was forced into making three changes due to suspensions, with Ismael Fuentes, Gonzalo Jara and Pablo Contreras coming in to replace Marco Estrada, Guy Medel and Waldo Ponce.
But despite the changes it was Chile who settled first and a superb block by Dani Alves denied Alexis Sanchez inside three minutes, before Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar needed to be alert to deal with a dangerous cross.
Gilberto Silva tried his luck from around 30 yards and Claudio Bravo, at full stretch, tipped the ball around the post as Brazil got their first sight of goal.
However, it was Chile who were looking the sharper and Humberto Suazo got between two defenders but Cesar comfortably dealt with his chipped effort.
And suddenly Bielsa’s side found themselves two goals down.
Juan leapt above everyone to beat Bravo with a bullet header on 34 minutes, and four minutes later it was 2-0 as Fabiano timed his run to perfection to round Bravo and slot home after some neat build-up play by Robinho and Kaka.
Michel Bastos fired inches wide and Fabiano headed over a Maicon cross as Brazil tried to add a third before the break.
Chile boss Bielsa knew he would have to make changes at the break and sent on Rodrigo Tello and Jorge Valdivia.
Despite the changes Brazil were continuing to dominate and Alves’ free-kick just flew over the crossbar.
And the third goal came just before the hour mark when Ramires surged into the Chile half, beat two men and played in Robinho, and the Brazil striker produced a fantastic curling strike that nestled in the bottom corner.
An ambitious Alves shot swerved just wide as they sought a fourth, while Chile finally mustered a decent chance after 20 minutes of the second half, but Valdivia’s volley flew over the crossbar.
Suazo then turned his marker inside the Brazil area but was denied by a fine save from Cesar, and the Chilean then saw his unconvincing volley bounce off the ground and onto the crossbar as the minutes ticked away.
Nilmar failed to get his header on target when he should maybe have added a fourth for Brazil, and Jean Bousejour fired a shot across the face of goal as Chile failed to net a consolation goal before bowing out.
Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Juan, M Bastos, G Silva, L Fabiano (Nilmar 76), Kaka (Kleberson 81), Robinho (Gilberto 85), D Alves, Ramires.
Goals: Juan 35, Luis Fabiano 38, Robinho 59
Chile: Bravo, Fuentes, Isla (Millar 62), Contreras (Tello 46), Carmona, Sanchez, Vidal, Suazo, M Gonzalez (Valdivia 46), Beausejour, Jara.
Bookings: Kaka, Ramires (Brazil), Fuentes, Vidal, Millar (Chile)