In less than five minutes the Verdeamarelhos crushed Marcelo Bielsa's hopes of playing their fifth match in South Africa. Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho sealed another Carioca feast in the Black Continent. While Chile returns to the Andes, Dunga and the rest of the squad will have to prepare to face Holland in the next round.
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Once again Brazil was the executioner of Chile in a World Championship, as they did back in 1962 and 1998. Chile suffered the absence of their main defenders (Waldo Ponce and Gary Medel) while Dunga could recover Robinho, Elano and Kaka for this match. Midfield's battle was clearly won by the Cariocas, who recovered 33 balls against 14 by the Chilean squad.Brazil went berserk in the first minutes, forcing Chile's captain Claudio Bravo two times, when Luis Fabiano and Gilberto Silva found an open space. Chile's midfield weaknesses were becoming evident, boosting the confidence of Brazil's playmakers. Alexis Sanchez was Chile's only hope in the first minutes, but his solitude in the last meters made his efforts worthless. Jean Beausejour could do nothing against Lucio's constant mark, Humberto Suazo was a ghost, while Michael Bastos, Maicon and Dani Alves were omnipresent in the back line.
Five minutes of living hell
Six times Claudio Bravo granted Brazil a corner kick, until finally Juan was able to connect a header on minute 34. Upon the first goal the Brazilians were injected with a renewed energy: Robinho assisted Kaka, who made a brilliant assistance to Luis Fabiano four minutes later. Brazil's top striker eluded Real Sociedad's goalkeeper and shot against the empty net; Third goal for Luis Fabiano and half a ticket for the Brazilians, who finished the first half cool, calm and collected.
Right after the second goal Mark Gonzales made a brilliant effort and could have shorten the gap, but his shot went far away and could do nothing to worry Julio Cesar between the posts.Marcelo Bielsa was aware some modifications had to take place for Chile to stand a chance against the Brazilians: Rodrigo Tello and Jorge Valdivia took over Mark Gonzales and Pablo Contreras' place respectively, losing a defender to gain more control in the midfield. Jorge Valdivia was to associate with Sanchez, but Ramires and Gilberto Silva were the undisputed leaders of midfield's play.
Robinho secures the game
At the second minute of the second half Arturo Vidal was booked by a foul against Kaka. Dani Alves sent the ball slightly over the bar. Five minutes later another corner kick could have granted the third goal for the Verdeamarelhos, but Robinho could not take advantage of Lucio's assistance. Brazil was closer from scoring another goal than Chile from shortening the gap. On the 60th minute Robinho received a brilliant pass from Ramires that got through two Chilean defenders. Santos' top striker sent the ball to the bottom corner. 3-0 for the Cariocas, who are getting stronger match after match.
The rest of the match was a nightmare for Chile. Robinho could have scored the fourth goal on minute 73 when he challenged Claudio Bravo in close combat, but Chile's captain deflected the ball and saved Chile from an embarrassing result.If Humberto Suazo would have recovered its level maybe Chile would have stand a chance against one of the favorites for the title, but not even Lucio's mistake in the last minute, who gifted Jorge Valdivia the ball right in front of Julio Cesar was enough for Marcelo Bielsa's boys to taste the net. Two consecutive losses sent Roja's players back to South America, while Brazil, unbeaten, advances to lift their sixth title.. Will they make it?
