Portugal 0-0 Chile: Highlights and recap
By Adam Stocker
Chile beat Portugal on penalties in the Confederations Cup semifinal on Wednesday, June 28. Here are all the highlights from the match.
Claudio Bravo was the hero Wednesday, saving three penalties as Chile beat Portugal in a shootout to advance to the final of the Confederations Cup. The excitement came at the end of a tense match short on clearcut chances despite a talented cast of attacking players.
The best two chances of the first half both came within the first 10 minutes of the match. In the sixth minute, Alexis Sanchez played an excellent through ball to set striker partner Eduardo Vargas in on goal, but but Vargas was smothered by the onrushing Rui Patricio.
Portugal almost took the lead a minute later, when their attacking star, Cristiano Ronaldo, set up his strike partner with a wonderful pass. Andre Silva was denied at the back post by Bravo.
The game never really came to life, though La Roja probably edged the chances. Charles Aranguiz sliced a shot well wide when left unmarked at the back post on the half-hour mark, and the best chance opportunity of the second half also fell to Chile. Vargas was again the shooter, his scissor kick denied by a diving Rui Patricio.
Ronaldo had his best sight at goal in the 72nd minute, when his speculative shot sneaked wide after a big deflection. Other than that, the Real Madrid star was mostly nullified as Portugal failed to provide him with any consistent service.
If Chile were narrowly the better side in regular time, they dominated extra time. Sanchez had his best chance of the game in the 95th minute, but his header from 12 yards out missed narrowly wide left.
Chile had a decent call for a penalty denied when Jose Fonte stepped on Francisco Silva’s foot in the box. Silva looked to have lost control of the ball, but there was clear contact from Fonte. The referee signaled for a goal kick, choosing not to have the VAR review the decision.
With La Roja pushing for an equalizer, but the game seemingly destined for penalties, Arturo Vidal almost won it in the 118th minute. His half volley clattered off the inside of the post past an outstretched Patricio.
Highlights
https://twitter.com/JogaBonitoUSA/status/880154713525805056
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Chile will face the winner of the Mexico-Germany semifinal in the final on July 2. The losers of both matches will play a third-place playoff earlier the same day.