A brave Australia side have gone down to a strong Chile team in their World Cup opener in Cuiaba.
It was a stoic performance for much of the contest from the men in gold, but in the end the quality of Chile shone through. The Socceroos were aggressive and willing, but the lack of touch, both in passing and finishing, let the Socceroos down.
On the other hand, Chile got the ball into good areas more consistently, and made the best of their chances, netting three goals.
The Socceroos were put on the back foot early. Despite an impressive opening 10 minutes, Chilean wizard Alexis Sanchez capitalised on the Socceroos’ inability to clear in the 12th minute, firing a shot between Mat Ryan and a number of Australian defenders for the opening goal.
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It was a sloppy piece of defending from the ‘Roos, but a reminder of how clinical Chile could be in front of goal.
As if they needed more reminding, Sanchez was again involved as Chile took a 2-0 lead just two minutes later, with midfielder Jorge Valdivia clinical from the top of the box.
There was talk of going to bed for many Aussies, with another rout (Spain earlier went down to the Netherlands 5-1. Repeat that, 5-1!) looking like it was on the cards.
But the Socceroos settled with the main man Tim Cahill leaping over the Chilean defender to claw one back before the break.
With a tally of four, the veteran Aussie striker has now scored more goals in the World Cup than Ballon d’Or winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo combined.
In what was truly a game of two halves for Australia they largely held their own in the second stanza before Chile’s Jean Beausejour put the final nail in the coffin in the 90th minute.
Cahill looked to have headed home the Socceroos’ equaliser in the 53rd minute but was rightfully ruled offside.
Centreback Alex Wilkinson made a crucial clearance off the line to deny Eduardo Vargas a goal.
Mark Bresciano, who in the opening half looked to be struggling to keep up with Chile’s high intensity play, was back in the game after the break putting gloveman Claudio Bravo to work with a stinging shot.
The chances kept coming for Australia with leftback Jason Davidson, in his best game for Australia, crossing the ball to the waiting Cahill who headed just over.
Looking to exploit the Chile’s high defensive line with pace Postecoglou brought on winger Ben Halloran for Oar and James Troisi for Bresciano.
But it was Mathew Leckie impressed with his busting runs down the right and tough tackles.
After an impressive second half from Australia, who had Chile on the back foot, substitute Beausejour struck again for the South Americans in the 90th minute for the 3-1 result.
With AAP
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