looked like they were

Date: June 13, 2014

Result: Chile 3-1 Australia

Goalscorers:

Chile:

  • Alexeis Sanchez 12
  • Valdivia 14
  • Beausejour 92

Australia:

  • Cahill 35

Venue: The Arena Pantanal stadium, Cuiaba

Attendance: 40,275

Match overview: Australia have only ever kept 1 clean sheet in their 10 previous World Cup matches. That came in a 0-0 draw with Chile back in 1974. They are are the lowest-ranked nation in the FIFA World Rankings competing at the 2014 World Cup. Chile’s 6 defeats in qualification was more than any other nation competing in Brazil suffered.

Key moment: Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo produced a fine save to deny Mark Bresciano midway through the second half. At the time, Chile were floundering and Australia, led by a typically combative Tim Cahill were sniffing an equaliser.

Man of the match: Alexis Sanchez. The Barcelona man opened the scoring and was at the heart of much of Chile’s best work.

Stats: Goal attempts

  • Chile 11
  • Australia 14

On target

  • Chile 9
  • Australia 6

Corners

  • Chile 3
  • Australia 1

Matter of fact: Tim Cahill has now scored at three separate World Cup tournaments – the first Australian to do so. His header against Chile extends his record as Australia’s leading goalscorer to 33.

Talking point: Chile, tipped by many as the dark horses of Brazil 2014, showed no signs of first night nerves, racing onto a two-goal lead. But, when a youthful Australia settled, weaknesses began to appear in the Chile defence, most notably when the Socceroos utilised the aerial threat of Cahill. Jorge Sampaoli has constructed a potent attacking force, but better sides than Australia will exploit their defensive vulnerabilities.

Line-ups:

Chile:

  • 01 Bravo
  • 04 Isla
  • 02 Mena
  • 21 Díaz
  • 17 Medel
  • 18 Jara
  • 20 Aránguiz
  • 10 Valdívia (Beausejour – 68′ )
  • 11 Vargas (Pinilla – 88′ )
  • 07 Sánchez
  • 08 Vidal (Gutierrez – 60′ )

Australia:

  • 01 Ryan
  • 02 Franjic (McGowan – 49′ )
  • 03 Davidson
  • 05 Milligan
  • 22 Wilkinson
  • 06 Spiranovic
  • 07 Leckie
  • 15 Jedinak
  • 04 Cahill
  • 23 Bresciano (Troisi – 78′ )
  • 11 Oar (Halloran – 69′ )

Goals:

Chile:

  • Alexeis Sanchez 12
  • Valdivia 14
  • Beausejour 92

Australia:

  • Cahill 35

Yellow cards:

Chile:

  • Aranguiz 86

Australia:

  • Cahill 44, Jedinak 58, Milligan 67

Referee: Noumandiez Doue (Ivory Coast).