Chile saw off an Australia fightback to eventually prevail 3-1 against their World Cup Group B opponents.
Chile saw off an Australia fightback to eventually prevail 3-1 against their World Cup Group B opponents.
The South Americans’ boss Jorge Sampaoli named Juventus” data-scaytid=”3″>Juventus duo Arturo Vidal and Mauricio Isla in his starting eleven for the encounter in Cuiaba, while Atalanta’s” data-scaytid=”5″>Atalanta’s James Troisi was a substitute for the Socceroos.
Midfielder Vidal, who faced a race to be fit in time for the tournament following knee surgery last month, could only however play for 60 minutes before being substituted.
Chile, as expected, began the brighter side and were in front in the 12th minute. The exciting South Americans got in behind the Socceroos for the first time and, following a period of pinball in the Aussies’ six-yard box, Alexis Sanchez smashed in the loose ball.
Barely a minute later, it was two. A sweeping Chile move from back to front ended with Sanchez playing the ball across to Jorge Valdivia, who finished superbly into the top corner of Mat Ryan’s goal.
At 2-0 down, Ange Postecoglou’s team looked dead and buried but, despite Chile’s continued supremacy, they held firm and did not concede any more major chances.
Chile, for all their attacking flair and swagger, can be suspect defensively and on 35 minutes the Aussies had a lifeline. Ivan Franjic swung in a right wing cross following an improved five or so minutes by the Socceroos, and former Everton man Cahill was on hand to head past Claudio Bravo’s despairing dive.
The second half began in similar, open fashion to the first and on 52 minutes, Australia thought they were level. Cahill was again the man causing the problems and found the net with another header, only for it to be correctly ruled out for offside.
Four minutes later, the Chileans continued to live dangerously as Mark Bresciano drilled in a left-foot half volley that seemed destined for the bottom corner. Bravo, however, saved brilliantly to his left.
At the other end Eduardo Vargas found himself in on goal, but having beaten Ryan with his dinked finish, Alex Wilkinson arrived back in the nick of time to hack the ball off the line.
Cahill headed over again for Australia and, in truth, they were unable to provide much of a threat after that despite their best efforts.
The South Americans, while still threatening on occasion, were slightly underwhelming for much of the remainder of the match.
However, they sealed a win they deserved on the overall balance of play in stoppage time when Jean Beausejour drilled home.
Chile 3 – 1 Australia
Sanchez 12 (C), Valdivia 14 (C), Cahill 35 (A), Beausejour 90 (C)
Chile: Bravo (c), Mena, Isla, Sanchez, Vidal (Gutierrez 60), Valdivia (Beausejour 68), Vargas (Pinilla 88), Medel, Jara, Aranguiz, Diaz
Australia: Ryan, Franjic (McGowan 49), Davidson, Cahill, Milligan, Spiranovic, Leckie, Oar (Halloran 69), Jedinak (c), Wilkinson, Bresciano (Troisi 78)
Referee: Doue (Ivory Coast)