Brazil could only draw 1-1 with Chile after extra time in the World Cup Round of 16 in Belo Horizonte, but emerged victorious 3-2 on penalties.
The Selecao took the lead through David Luiz midway through the first half but on the half hour Alexis Sanchez levelled the score with a cool finish, but on one could find a winner in normal time or in extra time, thus a Gonzalo Jara spot kick settled the tie, with Julio Cesar the hero as he saved two penalties.
In an electric first half it was Brazil who had the first opportunity when Marcelo curled an effort from the edge of the area just wide. The home side continued to press for the opening goal with Hulk impressing in the opening stages.
Two early penalty claims, on for either side, were waved away by referee Howard Webb, as first Sanchez, then Neymar went down in their respective penalty areas.
Brazil then started to show some promise on the counter attack with Neymar sent in on goal, but over-elaboration from the youngster allowed Chile to get bodies back and nullify the opportunity.
However, the crowd erupted as Luiz bundled in at the far post from a Neymar corner, though it looked as if the ball came off Gonzalo Jara.
Chile rallied and started to gain more of the ball but failed to create any meaningful chances, but remained at risk from Brazil counters. Neymar, taking advantage of a mistake in midfield but scuffs his shot as he sprinted into the area.
Then, a monumental mistake from Hulk gifted the ball to Eduardo Vargas, who found Sanchez in the Brazil penalty area, and the Barcelona star slotted past a helpless Julio Cesar.
Moments later Brazil should have been ahead once more as Neymar got on the end of a looping Oscar cross, but his header went inches wide of the far post. And not long after Neymar, once more the instigator, dribbled into the Chile penalty area and as ball went across the penalty area, Fred had almost an open goal to aim or but he fired over.
In the second period, Fernandinho had a decent chance early on but his effort from 25 yards went just wide of the left hand post.
But Hulk looked to have made up for his earlier mistake as he put the ball in the back of the net, but according to the referee the player hand-balled when controlling the ball.
There wasn’t the same electricity as in the first half as both teams looked a little more tentative, with a huge number of fouls committed by both.
Some lovely play by Chile saw Arturo Vidal play a lovely one-two on the left side of the penalty area with Mauricio Isla, who cut the ball back to Aranguiz but his effort from 12 yards out was expertly saved by Cesar.
A period of scrappy midfield play ensued but Eugenio Mena did brilliantly to deny Jo. Hulk played in a cross from the right and Jo managed to get away from his marker, but a slight touch from the defender took it away from the former Manchester City man.
Another massive chance fell the way of Neymar, as Dani Alves floated in a beautiful ball from the right, and the Barcelona striker was unchallenged but he could only direct his header into the hands of Claudio Bravo.
Bravo was on hand to deny Brazil once again. This time Hulk managed to dribble past a couple of Chile defenders before bursting into the left side of the penalty area, only for his shot into the far right corner to be parried away by the goalkeeper.
Neither side could fashion a match winning goal in the later stages of the half as extra time ensued.
Extra time began with Hulk winning a free kick not the left of the Chile penalty area, but Neymar couldn’t beat La Roja’s defence.
Jo then tried to get on the end of the long ball but clattered into an onrushing Bravo. He then had another opportunity which was smothered by the goalkeeper.
Then Oscar had his header was easily claimed by Bravo, before Sanchez put a freekick wide of the far right post.
In the second half of extra time, Jo put a header wide from a Neymar corner.
Chile looked happy to defend the result and play for penalty kicks, rarely making their way out of their own half, but almost won it as Mauricio Pinilla almost won it with one minute remaining, but his shot from the edge of the area smashed against the crossbar.
Then in the shootout Julio Cesar saved two penalties and Jara missed the decisive spot kick, hitting the post.
