DHAKA: Hosts Brazil will face fellow South American nation Colombia in quarter final at Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza on July 5.
The first two teams through to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals following both nations winning their respective Round of 16 encounters’s on Saturday.
Brazil advanced through to the quarter-finals following a 1-1 (3-2 on penalties) victory over Chile, a match that was decided by a penalty shootout in the heat in Belo Horizonte.
Whilst Colombia set up a quarter-final date with Brazil following their 2-0 victory over another South American side in Uruguay in the night match in Rio di Janeiro.
The opening match of the knockout stages took place in front of 57,714 at the Estadio Mineirao where tournament hosts Brazil was looking to continue their impressive record against fellow South American nation Chile.
It started well too for the samba kings with defender David Luiz opening the scoring from close range following a corner in the 18th minute.
However Chile who have impressed thus far in the tournament slowly started to get back in the game and equalised through their star man in Alexis Sanchez in the 32nd minute as the Barcelona man took full advantage of poor defending from the home side.
In what was an epic opening half Brazil almost re-took the lead but Dani Alves long range effort was brilliantly saved by Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who incidentally is joining Alves at Barcelona next year.
The first half was played at a very high tempo but the players were obviously affected by the heat in the second half as the match was played at a much slower pace with both goalkeepers in Bravo and Julio Cesar making crucial saves.
Ninety minutes was unable to separate both teams as the sides headed in for extra-time with Bravo making another quality save to deny Brazilian’s best attacker in Hulk.
Remarkably Chile almost sent the hosts out in the final minute of extra time but second half substitute Mauricio Pinilla hitting the crossbar with a rocket of a shot Cesar well beaten.
A penalty shoot-out was needed between the teams with Cesar being the hero as he saved the first two Chilean penalties but Bravo then rescued his side later on as the pressure started to get to the hosts.
Superstar striker Neymar then converted his penalty to give his side the upper hand before Gonzalo Jara missed his penalty as an emotional Brazil celebrated a victory over a gallant Chilean outfit.
Brazil will next take on Colombia in the quarter-finals following their 2-0 victory over Uruguay in the other round of 16 encounter played on the opening day of the knockout stages, reports CNN.
A brace by James Rodriguez, including a contender for goal of the tournament secured the well-deserved victory for Colombia as they advanced through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the very first time.
Without the suspended Luis Suarez Uruguay were always going to struggle and their battle was made even more difficult as one of the finds of the tournament in Rodriguez produced an out of this world strike to open proceedings in front of 73,804 at the Estadio Maracana.
Rodriguez, 22 chested the ball down, turned and hit a sublime volley that hit the underneath of the crossbar and in to the delight of the crowd and millions watching on their TV screens.
It was a moment of brilliance by the Monaco striker who went on to double his and his side’s advantage five minutes into the second half, this time from close range as Colombia progressed through to the next round of what is the 20th edition of the World Cup.
BDST: 0930 HRS, JUN 29, 2014
