Brazil Beat Chile in Penalty Epic
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Sharapova, Nadal Costa Rica reach last 16 at wary of Greek soggy Wimbledon catenaccio SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 201417 18 Algeria in fight for glory Page 19 BELO HORIZONTE: Brazil’s forward Jo (right) tries to score a goal as Chile’s goalkeeper and captain Claudio Bravo saves the ball during extra-time of the Round of 16 football match between Brazil and Chile yesterday. — AFP Brazil beat Chile in penalty epic BELO HORIZONTE: Nervous Brazil beat Chile 3-2 on penalties to had the majority of the chances, but were overcome by nerves lost to Brazil in the 1962 semi-finals, faced a huge challenge to off 10 minutes into the second half when Hulk succeeded in reach the World Cup quarter-finals yesterday after an epic battle in the second half and were hugely lucky to survive at the end of come from behind, but Brazil allowed them to control posses- turning the ball into the net with his knee and wheeled away that left Neymar and his teammates in tears. Two first half-goals extra time when substitute Pinilla lashed a shot against the bar sion and gifted them an equalizer. in celebration. Hulk thought he had redeemed himself for his and were all the teams managed in a fast-paced and tense 90 from the edge of the area. Hulk made a carelessly pass, error in Chile’s equalizer, but the referee ruled that he had con- minutes and extra time in the Mineirao Stadium. Gonzalo Jara Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side now look forward to a quarter-final allowing Eduardo Vargas to trolled the ball with his arm and brandished a yellow card to missed the decisive penalty for Chile, crashing his shot against against either Uruguay or Colombia in Fortaleza, while Chile pounce and set up Sanchez, the burly forward. the post and across the face of the goal, to continue his coun- contemplate a last-16 exit at the hands of Brazil, just as they suf- who had hardly been As nerves took hold, Brazil needed Cesar to come to the try’s record of World Cup misery against Brazil. Willian and Hulk fered in 1998 and 2010. As in all of their group games, Brazil involved in the game but rescue with a fine reaction save from an Aranguiz shot, while both missed from the spot for Brazil. But David Luiz, Marcelo and started frantically amid a backdrop of deafening noise from the came alive to coolly beat Neymar, so often the hosts’ source of genuine inspiration, fad- Neymar all kept their cool to score while Julio Cesar made crucial crowd of almost 60,000. Chile were subjected to the sort of high Julio Cesar in goal. ed from the game. Instead Hulk came to the forefront. He saves from Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez. and energetic pressing game they normally inflict upon others delivered a glorious cross from the left that Jo, on in place of Neymar sank to his knees in disbelief afterwards amid wide- and Marcelo shot narrowly wide before English referee Howard Handball denies Hulk Fred, could not convert and then stung the palms of Bravo spread tears of joy. Some of the Chilean players hid their weep- Webb rejected loud appeals for a penalty when Hulk went Jorge Sampaoli’s side were then forced to weather a storm after accelerating into the box. In the first period of extra time, ing under their shirts as they left the field. Earlier on a hot after- down in the area after coming together with Mauricio Isla. into half-time that saw a Neymar header deflected past the Hulk produced another trademark thunderbolt from 30 yards noon in Belo Horizonte, Sanchez pounced on poor Brazilian Brazil and their fans celebrated in the 18th minute, howev- post and Claudio Bravo tip a powerful 30-yard drive from that was blocked by Bravo. Chile, meanwhile, seemed happy defending to equalize for Chile in the 32nd minute, cancelling er. Neymar swung in a corner from the left and Thiago Silva Daniel Alves over the bar. Chile to take their chances in the lottery of a penalty shoot-out. out an 18th-minute opener for the hosts that appeared to be an headed the ball on towards the back post, went into the net off looked more comfortable after Pinilla almost won it right at the last, only for the woodwork to own-goal by Jara but was awarded by FIFA to David Luiz. Brazil Jara who was under pressure from David Luiz. Chile, who also the restart, even if they had a let- rescue Brazil, as it did again from Jara’s crucial penalty. — AFP Neymar has his groupies ‘Neymarzetes’ Serena knocked out of BRASILIA: “First comes God, then family and then Neymar,” says Rayellen score a goal?’ and he replied: ‘Not just one, but two.’ That night, he scored two Wimbledon by Cornet Andrade, 17, wearing the yellow Brazil team jersey with her idol’s name across goals,” Andrade says. LONDON: Top seed Serena Williams’ challenge for a sixth the back. She’s among the tens of thousands of groupies known as Brazil lost to Mexico in the Olympic final, taking home the silver Wimbledon singles title fizzled out with a shock 1-6 6-3 6-4 “Neymarzetes,” who worship the Brazil and Barcelona forward on both sides of medal. But Neymarzetes believe he can lead Brazil to a record- defeat by France’s Alize Cornet yesterday. The 32-year-old the Atlantic as if he were a Justin Bieber in football cleats. “Neymarmania” is extending sixth World Cup. “He will become the best player American seemed in a hurry to make up for lost time fol- sweeping across Brazil. in the world back in his homeland,” Andrade says. His lowing a long rain delay when she raced through the first The face of Neymar, who changed haircuts and hair color during the tour- transfer to Barcelona last year broke the hearts of set but when Cornet began to dig in her powerful game nament before sporting a blond top, is everywhere: On advertising billboards, many fans who wanted him to keep playing began to crumble in front of a stunned crowd on Court television commercials and in the hearts of his admirers. His female fans closer to them in Brazil. “We hoped that One. Persistent rain at the All England Club meant only two scream when they see him, collect any Neymar souvenir, scan the Internet for he would stay. We were crushed games were possible before the players were running for the latest details of his life and talk about him in web chatrooms. With long when he announced his depar- cover from the showers. When they returned four hours reddish hair and nails painted in green, Andrade comes from a middle-class ture,” Andrade says. “But then later Williams took charge. family living in Brasilia. he did an interview in The 24-year-old Cornet, who had already beaten She has covered her bedroom with posters of the striker. She collects fold- which he said ‘I will Williams this year, refused to fade away though and with ers filled with newspaper articles about him. Unable to score tickets for Brazil- never abandon my Neymar her opponent looking uncomfortable moving on the grass Cameroon in Brasilia this week, she went to the pre-game practice hoping to Neymarzetes.’” she took the second set with some accurate shot-making. get his attention. “He knows I exist. My biggest dream is to kiss him and tell Andrade has a A desperate-looking Williams fought off break points in the him I love him, that if he has a problem I will always be by his side,” she says. boyfriend but opening game of the decider but Cornet turned the screws Watching the game at home, she welled up after Neymar, the World Cup’s she insists he’s not at 2-2 to move ahead and then broke serve again to lead 5- joint top scorer, netted in the 4-1 victory. jealous of her crush. When it comes to 2. World number one Williams looked set to launch a late Her passion for Neymar began five years ago after an epileptic crisis. “I was- Neymar’s model-girlfriend, Bruna escape as she clawed back to 4-5 but Cornet held her n’t interested in any particular player but when I turned 12, I became very sick,” Marquezine, Andrade tries to be gra- nerve when she served for the match for a second time, she says. She was unable to walk or go school and risked being paralysed. cious. “I respect her because she moving to match point when Williams bundled an easy Spending hours at home on the Internet, Andrade found comfort in Neymar, makes my idol happy. I’m not a fan volley into the net. who played for Brazilian club Santos at the time. “I didn’t see anybody. I had no of her but I respect her.” Andrade’s Williams suffered her earliest exit from the All England friends. I became passionate about him,” she says. “I started reading books, mother supports her daughter’s Club since 2005 when she chased down a Cornet dropshot doing searches about him and his family. I bought everything about him. His obsession. “I like her happy. When but smacked an attempted backhand pass into the net. “I joy of life took away my sadness of having no contacts,” Andrade says. we have to take her somewhere for just cannot believe it,” Cornet, who has reached the last 16 Neymar, I go with her,” Marlene of a grand slam for only the second time in 34 attempts, Crushed by his departure Andrade says.