Game # 49 - Brazil vs Chile

For a few minutes there I thought that this was going to become a classic hack fest with a "If in doubt, kick out" philosophy but both sides settled down to actually kick the ball rather than each other. The Brazil attack was in full swing fast, with Marcelo coming close early in the game. Chile really didn't get much rhythm going before David Luiz (or was it Jara?) scored the first Brazilian goal. Brazil continued to hammer home and it looked likely they would score a second, only for a careless defensive play to let Sanchez in with a relatively easy shot on goal. 1-1 it was and that's how the half finished.

The second half saw Chile gradually get going and eventually gain the ascendancy. However, for all that gain, Chile just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net and Brazil's defence scrambled across time and again to clear their goal. I know that a scrambling defence is a compliment in Rugby League but it wasn't here as Chile repeatedly tore Brazil's defence into rags. Somehow there was always a defender there or Julio Cesar made another great save. Brazil also raided at times but the second half was overwhelmingly Chile's. Hulk was probably the only Brazil player to really stand up and be counted (I was going to try for a "smash" joke in there but managed to restrain myself). The game finished 1-1 so it was on to extra time.

Extra time was a bit frantic with Brazil coming hard at Chile, with Hulk providing what was the only really good chance from players on both sides. Extra time finished 1-1.

Penalties it was and, as always, it was all a bit of a lottery. Brazil eventually came through 3-2.

Game # 50 - Colombia vs Uruguay

In a somewhat similar start to the Brazil-Chile game, this started as a real hack fest and I was starting to wonder if Uruguay had returned to the bad old days when they were certainly one of the hardest sides in South America. They really didn't present much of an attacking threat and their defence was containing the Colombia forwards well - that is, until the irrepressibly James Rodriguez popped up and scored what has to be the goal of the tournament so far. That really changed the game for Uruguay who just had to come out now and attack. Suddenly, they looked vulnerable at the back and a little ineffective up front, despite the valiant efforts of Cavani who seemed to be the only dedicated striker. I will say it and say it just once - they really did look flat in attack without Suarez but then no team should ever be about just one person. The first half finished 1-0 to Colombia.

The second half was much the same as the first and who should score again but James Rodriguez who scored from close range after a wonderful sweeping team move. There was still plenty of time to play but Colombia increasingly retreated into an 11-man defence and at times risked letting Uruguay muscle and blast their way back into the game. Just as that happened, Ospina stepped up and pulled off a series of saves that denied Uruguay any joy in front of goal. The game finished 2-0 to Colombia so they will face Brazil in the quarter finals.

This was a great game to watch and a wonderful advert for the game with so much attacking potential on display in both teams.