 |
| Neymar shined brightly for Brazil in their victory. Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Neymar stutter step perfectly placed ball into the left corner of the net in penalty shootout lifted Brazil past Chile 3-2. Defender Gonzalo Jara’s attempted tying shot clang off the right goal post sending the crowd at Estadio Minerirao in Belo Hortizonte into a frenzy. With the victory Brazil advanced to a quarterfinal matchup on Friday July 4th against Colombia.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
Brazil had gone up 2-0 in the shootout but Forward Hulk was unable to seal the win due to an outstanding kick save by Colombian goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. Chile tied the shootout at 2-2 on a goal right down middle by Marcelo Diaz.
Brazil got off to a solid start in the first half. They created pelnty of scoring chances and put a large amount of pressure on Chile. Off a corner kick, Neymar curled a shot into a box that was flick headed by Thiago Silva to David Luiz who left footed the ball into net making the score 1-0. and giving them the start they were looking for.
A cause for concern came up at the 29th minute as Neymar went down in heap after colliding with Arturo Vidal. A sigh of relief as Neymar was able to continue on.
Three minutes later, Chile tied the match 1-1 off a miscue by Hulk possessing the ball after a thrown in pass from Marcelo Vieira. Eduardo Vargas slipped a ball to Alexis Sanchez who drilled a low right kick into left corner of the net.
At the 38th minute Neymar sprinted down field and crossed the ball over to Fred who put the ball over the net. It was an opportunity that was as good a chance at putting a goal up as they had all match long.
Dani Alves had a golden opportunity at the 41st minute but his dipping and howling shot was pounced out above the crossbar by Bravo.
In the 54th appeared as though Brazil had taken a 2-1 lead but Hulk was assessed a yellow card for a handball on a long breakout pass. He knocked the ball down with his left ball and deposited the ball into the left corner of the net.
A slick pass from Mauricio Isla to Charles Aranguiz whose shot from close range was nabbed by Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar at the 63rd minute. Neymar nearly scored on a header at 80th minute but was corralled by Bravo. Regulation time ran out and these two teams would need an extra session to decide a winner.
The first half of the extra session first saw Brazil with the best scoring chance as Hulk fired a left footed shot that Bravo made a diving stop ranging to his right.
At the 106th minute off a corner kick from Neymar Forward Jo headed the ball over the net.
Shortly before the second extra session, Chile came within inches of winning the match off a bullet shot from Mauricio Pinnilla that banged off the top of the crossbar and out. 