Brazil avoid exit, win in penalty shootout

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/10204041/Brazil-avoid-exit-win-in-penalty-shootout

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved two spot-kicks in a shootout against Chile to send the hosts into the World Cup quarter-finals 3-2 on penalties following a pulsating 1-1 draw after extra time on Saturday (local time).

Four years to the day since Brazil eliminated Chile at the same stage of the 2010 tournament, they did it again when Gonzalo Jara sent his spot-kick against the post after Cesar had twice denied the battling Chileans.

Cesar also made an outstanding save in the second half of normal time and the five-times champions moved unconvincingly into a last-eight match against Uruguay or Colombia.

David Luiz had put Brazil ahead after 18 minutes but Alexis Sanchez equalised for battling Chile before halftime and the host nation watched with bated breath as Brazil were on the brink of elimination after Willian and Hulk had failed to convert their spot-kicks.





Fortunately for Brazil, Cesar also saved penalties from Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis before Jara's doomed attempt.



For Chile it was a bitter end to a promising World Cup, after failing to exorcise their Brazilian demons once again and falling to them at the same stage as in 1998 and 2010, the last two times they were in the tournament.

The Brazilians have now eliminated their fellow South Americans in four World Cups. Brazil has reached the quarterfinals at the last five World Cups. Chile has not advanced past the second round since it hosted the 1962 tournament.