Brazil 2014: Sanchez shines as Chile Beat Australia 3-1
Opeyemi Oladunjoye
Alexis Sanchez carried over his prolific form this season for Barcelona, scoring one goal and setting up another to lead Chile to a 3-1 win over Australia in stifling conditions in Cuiaba on Friday.
In a patchy but ultimately satisfying opening performance, the Chileans showed they are likely to be a serious threat at the World Cup, after their impressive run of results over the past 18 months.
Sanchez scored a close-range finish in the 12th minute, just before setting up Jorge Valdivia about 70 seconds after the restart for the playmaker to finish high into the net from the edge of the area.
A young Australian team — the lowest-ranked nation in Brazil and written off by most before a ball had been kicked — looked in danger of falling apart but the experienced Tim Cahill brought them back into the game with a trademark header in the 35th.
It was however, not over till a low shot by substitute, Jean Beausejour settled the match in the second minute of injury time, sending the Chilean bench running onto the pitch in elation.
A win over Spain on Wednesday would virtually guarantee eliminating the reigning champions, who slumped to a stunning 5-1 loss to the Netherlands earlier Friday.
“They have a superlative history in (major tournaments) … I don’t think it will be a defeat that defines the path of the Spanish team,” said Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli, whose side drew 2-2 with Spain in a friendly last year. “It will certainly be an electrifying game.”
Boasting its best ever squad for a World Cup, Chile has been strongly tipped by many — including Pele — to go far despite being thrown in the same group as two of Europe’s top teams.
Sanchez, coming off the best season of his career at club level with 21 goals for Barca, is a potential star of the World Cup and has the ability to run ragged a Spain defence that unraveled against the Dutch.
“Alexis is always the plus for us,” Sampaoli said. “His high standing, his personality, what he brings to the team, we are glad to have him in our team.”
