Chile 3 (Alexis Sanchez, Jorge Valdivia, Jean Beausejour): Australia 1 (Tim Cahill)
Socceroos’ with all they had could not keep out the La Rojas. This Chilean team has quality and experience and in their own continent they are dangerous team. But Australians were not also far behind. Australia went down fighting to a little superior Chile on the day (2-1).
Two early goals took some gloss out of Socceroos. Dynamic Chile plotted a plan to dazzle the opponent with speed down the flanks and through the heart of the defence early on. Australia crowded the defence with many still the nimble footed Chileans found lot of space in Socceroos penalty box getting almost multiple entry visas to maneuverer. Eleven minutes into the match Australian defence lost idea and ever lurking Alexis Sanchez tapped in from close range (1-0) .Valdvia made it two within two minutes from a beautiful build up (2-0).The goal was picture perfect. Tenth till twentieth minutes Chile played with superb ball control, neat passing at lightening pace. Very strong midfield continuously fed the brilliant forwards Sanchez, Vidal and Valdedevia with defence splitting through passes putting enormous pressure on Socceroos’ defence. Containing tidal surge of Chilean attack required quality and experience which Socceroos did not come across in earlier world cup matches. Australia also roared into attack whenever possible breaking in coutner attack .In the thirty third minute from a good cross into the Chilean penalty box reliable Tim Cahill headed home reducing the margin (2-1). With this Cahill scored goals in all three world cup. Chile looked a bit vulnerable against quick counter attack. After a nervous start conceding two early goals Australia finished the first half if not on equal term but definitely not down or out.
Australians started half with positive intent and created some half chances in the first fifteen minutes of the second half. A brilliant Braciano narrowly missed the target. Chileans started looking more and more vulnerable to quick counter attacks. Against the run of play Alexis Sanchez almost scored in the 61 st minute but only a goal line save saved Australian further down. Mathew Lackie and Mark Milligan kept Socceroo’s moving deep into Chilean defence .Marco Braciano had few long distance efforts. Australians established midfield control and kept punishing the Chileans into their territory. Mathhew Leckies blistering pace kept Chilean surging wing backs honest. Any time quality cross came Cahill was there to try his talking header. Both the teams had their moments, chances and half chances could not be converted till the dying minutes in the injury time taking advantage of the tiring Australian defence Jean Beausejour made it (3-1). Tim Cahill’s goal remained the defining moment for Australians in the match.
SOCCEROOS against LA ROJA. Australia does not have a Soccer history to match major Soccer nations not to speak of the great South American football giants. But in its limited appearance Australia at least showed the world the mental toughness and demonstrated the usual Never Say die attitude of the nation. Australians never die before death. No Australian team returned from World Cup with a blank sheet. But this time having placed in a very strong group the mission is mainly damage control. World Cup 2014 draw has placed Australia in Group B with Spain, Netherland and Chile -the challenge is very steep. Having seen Netherland giving the World Champion a hiding Aussies got a great heart to put all in their hats to make a match of it against South American Powerhouse Chile. Fourth World Cup, third on the trot Australia really has nothing to lose. Chile on the other hand is considered South American dark horse to go deep into the tournament in their continent. They were keen to top the group to avert a possible meeting with Brazil in the knock out. May not be as spectacular as Brazil, Argentina or even Uruguay but they have enough quality and depth to challenge the best of the best.
Against such a team Soccerros could only put in their best. Australians could match the superior Chileans in skill but they had no lacking in physical fitness and mental toughness though. Down by two early goals in quick succession Australia did no collapse. Australian defence after the early shock stood firm. Average team could not recover for such an early reverse. But Socceroos did. They showed a great character of never giving up. After getting back the composure Australians also created pressure on Chilean defence. Australians were defeated but definitely not disgraced. A point here was all Australia richly deserved. Second half excepting the injury time Chilean goal belonged to Socceroos’.
Chile on the other hand was quick to realize that going quickly up they leave telling holes in their defence. Against stronger opposition their defence has to play more compact. In the second half they were much measured in their approach and must be happy that they did get all full points. Chile definitely did not expect a very aggressive Australians stretching Chileans to their limit.
Summing up the match one must say Australians coming up against a quality team did not disappoint.
BDST: 0912 HRS, JUN 14,2014
