Holland claim top spot in Group B after 2-0 win over Chile
Chile saw more of the ball in the opening 45 minutes on Monday and Felipe Gutierrez twice came close to opening the scoring, blazing a low Alexis Sanchez corner over the bar before heading Marcelo Diaz’s free-kick wide from close range.
The introduction of Depay appeared to open things up for Holland after the break and he forced Claudio Bravo into tipping his long-range effort over the bar for the corner which led to the opening goal.
The deadlock was eventually broken by Fer, who had replaced Wesley Sneijder moments earlier, when he rose to meet Daryl Janmaat’s cross from deep with a towering header.
Holland then wrapped things up in added time when Robben broke from a Chile corner and he found Depay unmarked at the back post to tap in from close range.
Spain grab first 2014 World Cup win
With captain Xavi injured and Iker Casillas dropped, meaning both have certainly played in their last World Cup and probably their final international games too, Spain made seven changes in total.
That allowed Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who spent last season on loan at Napoli and is not wanted at Anfield, to make his World Cup debut nine years after his first appearance for the national side.
He was barely troubled as the tournament's lowest-ranked side failed to have any impact against the nation ranked number one before it all kicked off, after three successive major tournament triumphs.
But with the defending champions knowing they were heading home even before this encounter and many considering their long-term futures, there was a real lack of spark.
That backheel was employed to more devastating effect in the 36th minute when Iniesta sent right-back Juanfran racing to the touchline and although his cut-back was slightly behind the unmarked striker, Villa diverted in the ball around his standing leg.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke, expected to be a key figure in Spain's future rebuilding, had a low long-range drive tipped wide by Ryan but it was one of the old-stagers who unlocked the Socceroos defence again.
Iniesta's through-ball split Australia's two centre-halves and Chelsea striker Torres - the man who began Spain's gold rush with the winner in the final of Euro 2008 - ran in from the left to slide home the second, before Mata converted from close range with eight minutes remaining.
Croatia, knowing they needed to win to progress, started the brighter of the two sides and Perisic fired a volley over the top after getting on the end of Rakitic's cross .
However, three goals in 11 second-half minutes from captain Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado and substitute Javier Hernandez ensured Mexico finished second in the group and set up a meeting with the Netherlands in Fortaleza in the knockout stages on Sunday.
Croatia grabbed a consolation three minutes from time, becoming the first team to score against Mexico when Ivan Rakitic's backheel pass found the run into the box of Ivan Perisic who drilled a left-footed shot into the corner of the net past Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Croatia's misery was compounded a minute from time when substitute Ante Rebic was sent off for a lunge on Mexico substitute Carlos Pena.
Neymar dazzles and Fred scores for Brazil in 4-1 rout
Brazil shacked up in their capital last night with a feeling that the brutal pressure and high pulse rate of the opening games might dissipate a little, even if top spot in the group was still on the line here.
While they did enough to achieve their primary goal, there were the same concerns in defence that have stalked them at this World Cup.
Brazil were shaky, especially from crosses but as he’s done already at this World Cup, with his team providing questions, Neymar had an answer.
Joël Matip’s equaliser for Cameroon midway through the first period prodded and probed at a shock result, but Neymar netted again before half-time and only then did they do what we all expected of them.
Fred, who tapped home the third early in the second half, was not threatening for the most part. And that after a promising start.
It lifted those around him, providing a soothing reassurance to one and all.
Minutes into the second half, Neymar had a free-kick tipped away before Marcelo’s cross left Fred with the sort of finish he needed with his confidence so low, although it looked suspiciously offside.
That released the pressure a bit, allowing the sort of play we had expected from much earlier, but the sort of play that cannot be used as an indicator of things to come when they meet Chile on Saturday in Belo Horizonte.
Even Neymar can expect it much different because as the game opened up past the hour mark, it left him any amount of space to gallop into.
Granted, there was no real capitalisation until Fernandinho found space in the dying embers and netted a deserved goal after a decent effort.
A win is fine for now, but a performance like this will not have made many others sit up and take notice or left many Brazilians sliding off the edge of their seats.
No comments:
Post a Comment