Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Cuiaba: Chile proved too hot for Australia as two goals in a blistering two-minute spell in the first halfand a superb stoppage-time strike saw the Socceroos go down 3-1 to La Roja in their 2014 FIFA World Cup Group B opener on Friday.
La Roja dominated the opening exchanges and needed just 12 minutes to breach the overworked Socceroos defence with the livewire Alexis Sanchez slotting home from close range after the inexperienced Australia back four were unable to deal with Chile's slick movement inside the penalty area.
Former Al Ain playmaker Jorge Valdivia, who was the 2009 UAE Best Player and Best Foreign Player during his spell with the inaugural AFC Champions League winners, then doubled Chile's advantage two minutes later with a sublime finish from outside the box after being teed up by Sanchez.
Chile were in complete and looked the team most likely to add to the scoreline until the irrepressible Tim Cahill extended his Socceroos goal-scoring record when he towered above central defender Gary Medel to head home Ivan Franjic's superb cross from the right with ten minutes of the half remaining.
It was the Socceroos stalwart's 33rd international goal and ensured the 33-year-old has found the net in three consecutive FIFA World Cups and he almost extended his Australia scoring record a minute later only to be denied by a sharp block from Chile keeper and captain Claudio Bravo.
Cahill (pictured) thought he had scored the equaliser seven minutes into the second half but the New York Red Bulls attacker was in an offside position when he beat Bravo with another trademark header before Bravo superbly denied Mark Bresciano's sweetly-struck half-volley and angled follow up three minutes later.
Alex Wilkinson reacted sharply to ensure Eduardo Vargas' bundled effort didn't cross the line on the hour mark and while the Socceroos fought back bravely they were unable to find the leveller and were caught by a late sucker punch two minutes into second-half stoppage time.
Chile exploited a tiring Aussie defence with a quick counter-attack and while Socceroos' stopper Maty Ryan did well to block Mauricio Pinilla's shot, the rebound fell into the path of fellow substitute Jean Beausejour, whose rasping low drive from outside the box flew past the Club Brugges keeper at his left hand post.
Photo: AFP