Article by David Ayala
The stage was set in the second match for group B with Chile taking on Australia in the Arena Pantanal Cuiaba. The experienced Chile side looks to take advantage of the little experience that the Socceroos have on the world stage.
The match has started with possession-based soccer to calm the nerves of each of the players. Chile has been bossing the flow of the match so far but Australia will be looking to winger Tommy Oar for some potential counter attacks.
With all that possession that Chile accumulated, it has produced the first goal of the match through the Barcelona man Alexis Sanchez. He found himself well positioned near the six yard box and rifled in a low and hard shot in the 12th minute to give Chile the lead.
The Aussies are all over the place as they conceded another goal just two minutes after conceding the first. Sanchez made a darting run forward and picked out Palmeiras midfielder, Jorge Valdivia, just inside the area and placed it to perfection in the keeper’s right-hand corner in the 14th minute.
The Aussies showed fight, as they pulled right back into the match as Tim Cahill headed the ball past keeper Claudio Bravo in the 32nd minute, making it now 2-1. The Socceroos didn’t look like scoring but have turned the match on its head through their all time goal scorer.
New York Red Bull forward, Tim Cahill was the first man booked in the match on minute 43. A free kick was awarded to a foul on Alexis Sanchez yards outside the box but nothing came of the set piece and that concluded the half at 2-1, Chile lead.
The second half picked up where the first one ended. Many chances being created on both ends of the pitch. Minute 53, saw another Cahill headed goal but disallowed rightfully so. Another chance for the Socceroos as Bravo pushed away a brilliant shot from Mark Bresciano in the 57th minute.
Australias captain Jedinak is the second man booked for a challenge on Sanchez, minute 58. Arturo Vidal subbed off for Felipe Luiz, minute 60.Vidal seems to be frustrated with a continuous knee injury.
Alex Wilkinson with the goal line clearance from an Eduardo Vargas chip over the keeper! What a match this is proven to be!
Mark Milligan booked for a foul on Sanchez, minute 67. Chile switched Valdivia for Jean Beausejour minute 68. Australia sub off Oar for Ben Halloran, minute 69. Final substitution for Australia as Bresciano makes way for James Troisi. Charles Aranguiz of Chile is booked minute 86. Vargas is replaced by Mauricio Pinilla in minute 88.
Chile score the killer blow to down Australia in extra time with a goal through Beausejour from outside the area, great strike from distance!
That concludes the match as Chile edged out Australia with a final result of 3-1. Chile now are now in second place of group B with 3 points just behind Holland on goal difference.