It’s the World Cup (15)

The Knockout round!

Winners in these two matches get to face off in the next round. No draws it’s a winer takes it all.  I’m tempted by Brazil and Uruguay.

Game one:

Brazil v Chile: I’m sure that Brazil are the odds on for this.

Brazil have all the opportunity and forward momentum. Set piece move unlocks the defence for Brazil to take a 1-0 lead at 18 minutes.

Of course this wakes Chile up. Brzil lapse in defence, a poorly weighted pass intercepted and a quick pass into the box and it’s 1-1 Chile draw level. 32 minutes.

Brazil are doing all the work in this game to make opportunity and have  opportunities that are not converted. 1-1 at the half. Surprisingly chile have possession advantage at 57% and Brazil appear to be conceding more infringements at 14-9 in a game that stutters along.

Goal Brazil! – disallowed for hand ball on 55 minutes, Hulk gets a yellow card for his  troubles, replays suggest that it was a valid goal though and that could be harsh.

Half plays out with opportunities mostly for Brazil, no goals, and extra-time being played.

Neither side can make a goal though and so the first game goes to a penalty shoot-out

Brazil go first

• Score – 1-0  – Thunderous kick
• Miss – advantage to Brazil 1-0 – Fine save the goalkeeper who hardly had to move.
• Miss – not even on target
• Miss – Chile miss their second – another save from the goalkeeper, remarkable.
• Score – 2-0
• Score – 2-1 Chile get one on the board – thunderous kick
• Miss – Goalkeeper saves
• Score – Chile still alive 2-2
• Score – 3-2 All the pressure on Chile
• Miss  – Chile are beaten on penalties a cruel way to end their tournament.

Game two:

Columbia Uruguay: Uruguay are without Suarez who’s been sent home for biting. But the betting man in me says it might be worth a punt.

A feisty start in a match, it’s pretty open though and both teams are looking likely.

27 minutes – Colombia look to set up the Uruguay defence, which results in a stunning goal from James Rodriguez, who takes Aguilar’s pass on his chest 22 yards out and volleys a shot left-footed over the fingertips of Muslera, off bar and  the ball bounces down into the net!

Stunning – a goal-of-the-tournament contender. All class.

Half time has Columbia with all the possession at 64% and 5 shots on target to 1.

Second half begins, Uruguay have a lot to do. And even more so at 5 minutes in as Chile go 2-0 up, from open aplay, a fine cross headed back into the 6 yard area and a cool finish from Rodriguez.

Colombia have this and Uruguay really don’t have an answer. The half play out and Colombia have a date with Brazil in their next match.

That’ll be interesting.