Brazil beats Chile 3-0 to reach quarter finals

Posted on August 7, 2010 by SoccerPunter

JOHANNESBURG: Brazil set up a mouth-watering World Cup quarter-final clash against the Netherlands with a convincing 3-0 win over Chile on Monday at Ellis Park.

First-half goals by centre-back Juan and striker Luis Fabiano gave Dunga-coached Brazil a 2-0 lead before Robinho made sure of their quarter-final berth with the third goal after an hour.

Brazil will face the Netherlands, who earlier saw off Slovakia 2-1, in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

This was Brazil’s 47th win in 66 matches against Chile, who have only seven wins – and third in three World Cup meetings after 1962 and 1998.

"We are on the right road and we played well, but we still have to iron out a few minor things," Robinho said afterwards.

Chilean keeper Claudio Bravo said Chile had given it their best shot but came up short.

"We have been beaten by one of the best teams in the world. We gave everything but we came up against a team that was very solid and played good football. We are good going forward but we have a fair bit of progress to make when it comes to defending," Bravo admitted.

Chile made a bright start, but Brazil quickly got into their stride as Luis Fabiano and Gilberto Silva both forced goalkeeper Claudio Bravo into early saves.

Brazil had a loud appeal for a penalty on 27 minutes when defender Pablo Contreras took away Lucio’s legs, but referee Howard Webb waved play on.

Real Madrid’s Kaka, back in the side after serving a one-match ban for his red card against the Ivory Coast, picked up the first yellow card when he went for the ball, but caught Chile’s Arturo Vital on the ankle on 30 minutes.

Brazil took the lead on 34 minutes when Maicon swung in a corner and Roma defender Juan rose the highest to head past Bravo.

Luis Fabiano made it 2-0 four minutes later after Kaka took a pass from Robinho on the left wing and slid the ball through for the Sevilla star to draw Bravo and slot home.

Chile’s Vital repaid the foul on Kaka and earned a yellow card on 47 minutes.

Brazil then grabbed their third goal after Benfica’s Ramires ran from the halfway line to the edge of the penalty area where he laid the ball off for Robinho to fire home on 59 minutes.

Chile refused to give up and substitute Jorge Valdivia fired over the crossbar on 67 minutes before team-mate Ismael Fuentes was booked for a foul on Luis Fabiano moments later.

Ramires will miss the quarter-final with the Dutch after earning his second yellow card of the tournament for a foul on Alexis Sanchez on 71 minutes.

Suazo forced Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar into a rare save on 75 minutes, just before Robinho had a second goal ruled out for offside.

With ten minutes left, Chile substitute Rodrigo Millar picked up a yellow card and Kaka earned a vuvuzela-fuelled fanfare of appreciation from Brazil’s fans when he went off.

SoccerPunter Analyst Comments:

Brazil cruised past Chile with a convincing 3-0 victory.

With the on-form strikers in Brazil, the goals keep coming and nothing seems to be stopping them. In the quarter finals, both sides attacking force will be neutralized by the solid defence.

We are looking forward to the showdown between Brazil vs Holland. It promise to be a spectacular match!