Nervous Brazil beat Chile 3-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday after an epic battle that left Neymar and his teammates in tears.
Two first half goals and all the teams managed in a fast-paced and tense 90 minutes and extra time in the Mineirao Stadium.
Gonzalo Jara missed the decisive penalty for Chile, crashing his shot against the post and across the face of the goal, to continue his country’s record of World Cup misery against Brazil.
Willian and Hulk both missed from the spot for Brazil.
But David Luiz, Marcelo and Neymar all kept their cool to score while Julio Cesar made crucial saves from Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez.
Neymar sank to his knees in disbelief afterwards amid widespread tears of joy.
Some of the Chilean players hid their weeping under their shirts as they left the field.
Earlier on a hot afternoon in Belo Horizonte, Sanchez pounced on poor Brazlian defending to equalise for Chile in the 32nd minute, cancelling out an 18th-minute opener for the hosts that appeared to be an own-goal by Jara, but was awarded by FIFA to David Luiz.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side now look forward to a quarter-final against either Uruguay or Colombia in Fortaleza, while Chile contemplates a last-16 exit at the hands of Brazil, just as they suffered in 1998 and 2010.
In the first period of extra time, Hulk produced another trademark thunderbolt from 30 yards that was blocked by Bravo.
Chile, meanwhile, seemed happy to take their chances in the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.
Pinilla almost won it right at the last, only for the woodwork to rescue Brazil, as it did again from Jara’s crucial penalty.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
