FIFA World Cup 2014, Highlights: Chile Thrash Australia 3-1 in Group B Clash
Goals from Alexis Sanchez, Jorge Valdivia and Jean Beausejour sealed Chile's 3-1 win over Australia in the FIFA World Cup. Tim Cahill scored for Australia.
- Somak Adhikari
- Updated: June 14, 2014 05:59 AM IST
Chile clinically finished off Australia in their Group B encounter. Catch all the highlights here (Matchcentre):
05:24 (IST): The final whistle is blown! So that is that for the match. Chile putting in an impressive performance as they win 3-1. There is an audible sigh of relief from Chile's players and fans. The loudest of all will have come from manager Sampaoli, whose changes in the second half yielded great results. It was two subs who landed the killer punch, with Pinilla's effort rebounding off Ryan for Beausejour to drill home. What looked like being a cut and dried Chile win after 14 minutes turned out to be anything but. Australia responded superbly after Sanchez and Valdivia had given Chile a two goal lead, and veteran forward Tim Cahill added another fine header to his scrapbook. Australia went close to equalising on both sides of the half-time break and Bresciano almost levelled but Bravo pulled out a super save. It really was an excellent clash here tonight, but Chile just had the little bit extra in the tank. Australia did not disgrace themselves by any means and Group B is off to a flyer.
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05:21 (IST): GOAL! What a strike from Jean Beausejour! The Wigan man fires in a superb 25 yard drive after Maty Ryan makes a super save from Pinilla.
05:19 (IST): James Troisi shows composure to pick out Leckie on the left hand side for Australia. Leckie cuts inside and lets fly with his weaker right foot but it hits a Chilean defender and is cleared away. Australia are desperate to equalise and it is not beyond the realms of possibility as Mauricio Pinilla comes on for Chile. For all of Australia's desperation to find another, they are running the risk of leaving themselves open at the back and Chile are sniffing around for any opportunity to strike what would surely be a killer blow at this stage.
05:15 (IST): Claudio Bravo indulges in a little time wasting here, delaying picking up the ball for as long as possible in order to run the clock down for his side. Sanchez has a go at goal but his shot from 20 yards flies hopelessly over the bar.
05:07 (IST): Eduardo Vargas is sent clean through but just fails to bend his run and the linesman's flag denies him a golden opportunity to make it three for Chile.
05:00 (IST): Another left-sided cross comes in and finds Cahill who beats three defenders to the ball but his header finds only the roof of Bravo's net. Remarkable stuff from the veteran and he remains a threat with 70 minutes gone.
04:50 (IST): What an opportunity! Eduardo Vargas makes a good run into the box to collect a killer pass and slams the ball on goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot is blocked by the defender with an amazing slide tackle.
04:45 (IST): A big opportunity is wasted by Mark Bresciano in the 57th minute, who makes a yard for himself and produces a mid-range rocket of a shot aimed to the bottom right corner. Unfortunately for him, Claudio Bravo pulls off a fantastic save to deny his effort. The ball goes behind for a corner. Australia will have an opportunity to endanger the opposition's goal.
04:43 (IST): Tim Cahill wheels away in celebration after heading in what looked like his and Australia's second but play is correctly brought back as the former Everton man has strayed just offside. Unlucky for Australia and Chile need to be careful here as the intensity increases.
04:42 (IST): It's a cagey start to the second half and Chile threaten first with a left wing cross but it's easily cleared by the Australian defence. Australia go down the other end and it's almost a chance but Bravo isn't tested and Chile get the ball back.
04:36 (IST): Can Australia cause another upset? Or will Chile see this one out? Ange Postecoglou's side will take great heart from how they finished the first half.
04:34 (IST): The second half is underway and one can hope for an exciting 45 minutes of play.
04:30 (IST): This game started at a frantic pace and Chile found themselves two goals to the good after Alexis Sanchez and Jorge Valdivia struck within the space of two minutes. Chile peppered the Aussie back-line but thanks in no small part to superb work from Jason Davidson at left-back they were not breached again.Tim Cahill then leapt highest and punished a moment of complacency from the South Americans, scoring the ninth Group B goal in what looks like it could be another cracker.
04:27 (IST): Not much to choose from between the two teams but Chile slightly ahead by virtue of their lead by one goal.
04:17 (IST): The half-time whistle is blown and Chile lead 2-1. All set for an interesting second half with both teams playing attacking football.
04:06 (IST): GOAL! Mathew Leckie sends a superb cross into the box, Tim Cahill latches on to it and from close range he plants a header into the roof of the net, leaving Claudio Bravo beaten. It's Chile 2 Australia 1 in the 35th minute.
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04:04 (IST): Jorge Valdivia finds Sanchez in the box and the Australian defence are inexplicably lacklustre in closing him down. They force Chile back however but yet again give away a foul in the centre of midfield and this suits Chile perfectly.
03:55 (IST): Chile not releasing the pressure as they mount repeated attacks on the Australian box. The Aussieshave no clue what just hit them.
03:53 (IST): Jorge Valdivia shows the other side to his game with an agricultural tackle. Referee Doue has a word with the midfielder and Australia take the free-kick but it is wasted and Chile are on the break.
03:52 (IST): Tommy Oar tries a shot from 25 yards after smart build up play but he drags it well wide. Claudio Bravo is yet to be tested here but that was better from Australia.
03:48 (IST): Chile's backs are up big time here and they win a corner on the left. Australia are all at sea as Marcelo Diaz whips the ball in but Ryan gathers eventually.
03:46 (IST): GOAL! Alexis Sanchez passes to Jorge Valdivia who collects the ball and unleashes a terrific shot from the edge of the box. His effort goes into the top left corner. It's 2-0 to Chile in the 14th minute.
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03:43 (IST): GOAL! It's 1-0 Chile and who else but Alexis Sanchez in the 12th minute? Vidal's far post cross wasn't cleared and Maty Ryan couldn't keep out the Barcelona forward's close range toe-poke.
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03:40 (IST): Mile Jedinak is brought down by what looked like a high foot from the Chilean player. The referee blows for the Australian free-kick and has a quiet word with Jedinak. Shortly afterwards, Mauricio Isla commits a foul and is furious with the man in the middle but he waves away the Chilean's protests.
03:38 (IST): Tim Cahill fouls Gary Medel and that could be the precedent set early in this one. Cahill will harry the defenders and try to force the mistake. It looks set to be an interesting battle.
03:30 (IST): The referee blows the whistle and the game is underway. It looks to be a fluid attacking line-up for Chile tonight, featuring an exciting front three of Valdivia, Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas. There is top level experience all over the pitch including veteran keeper Claudio Bravo and central midfield dynamo Arturo Vidal. Australia have no such luxury, and line-up without a recognised striker. Tim Cahill leads the line in what looks to be a 4-3-3 but you get the feeling that they may end up doing rather more defending than attacking. Cahill was in defiant mood earlier today however, stating - 'The worst thing you can do as a team is to underestimate us. We are A ustralians, so we are fearless, and if you knock us down we will get up again.' Strong words then from the Aussie's all time leading goalscorer, and his side will not go down without a fight.
03:27 (IST): The anthems are done and both teams shake hands with each other. All set for the fourth game of the FIFA World Cup.
03:20 (IST): Unbelievable stuff in Group B already then and both teams will go into this one well aware of the earlier result. Spain were hot favourites to top this group but it has taken on a whole other dimension with the Dutch demolishing the reigning champions 5-1. Chile look set to battle it out with the Spanish for second place now, and they will surely be even keener to win this game in style.
03:19 (IST): The Socceroos, as they are commonly known, have competed in three previous finals tournaments, in 1974, 2006 and 2010. This is their third finals in a row, and they are the lowest ranked team this year in 62nd place. Previous coach Holger Osieck was removed from his position after consecutive 6-0 friendly defeats against Brazil and France. Ange Postecoglou took over and has a remit to focus on developing the next generation of Australian talent, including both domestically based players and those playing in Europe such as captain Mile Jedinak of Crystal Palace, Borussia Dortmund back-up keeper Mitch Langerak and Dario Vidosic of Swiss side FC Sion. Tim Cahill is his country's all time leading scorer with 32 goals in 68 appearances. Their finest moment in a finals tournament came when they almost forced eventual winners Italy to extra time in 2006, only to be denied by an extremely dubious penalty in the dying moments. With a weaker squad this time around, and arguably the toughest possible group, it seems very unlikely that they will reach such heights this time around.
02:42 (IST): Earlier in the day Cameroon went down 1-0 to Mexico. (Match Report)
02:34 (IST): In the previous match, Spain were thrashed 5-1 by Netherlands as Robben and Van Persie scored two goals each. Catch all the highlights here.
AUSTRALIA BANK ON CAHILL FOR GOALS
Tim Cahill Australia
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With his trademark shadow-boxing routine at the corner flag, Australia forward Tim Cahill may provide one of the iconic goal celebrations at this World Cup.
And if anyone is going to score in Brazil for the tournament's lowest-ranked team, it's most likely going to be Cahill.
But therein lies the problem for the Socceroos, who are heading into a third straight World Cup with their chances having been written off before a ball has been kicked.
A reliance for goals on a 34-year-old in the twilight of a career spent mostly playing as a midfielder exposes the dearth of forward options for coach Ange Postecoglou in Brazil.
The only other out-and-out striker in the squad is 21-year-old Adam Taggart, who has just four international caps and is playing abroad for the first time.
That lack of a cutting edge is the main reason why Australia has been given little hope in a Group B that contains heavyweights Spain and the Netherlands, as well as first-up opponent Chile on Friday.
"We certainly believe we can be a threat in other areas," Postecoglou said after a training session in the stifling humidity in western city Cuiaba on Thursday, when asked about Australia's weakness up front, "but with Timmy, if he does get half a chance in the box, particularly in the air, he can hurt any opposition.
"I'm not worried. If he keeps scoring, I'm going to be happy." (Read Full Story)