CUIABA, Brazil (AP) — Alexis Sanchez produced a dynamic performance to lead Chile to a 3-1 win over Australia in the World Cup on Friday, scoring one goal and setting up another for one of the dangerous outsiders in the tournament.
Chile threatened to run away with the game in muggy Cuiaba when Sanchez poked home from close range in the 12th minute, before setting up Jorge Valdivia barely a minute later for the playmaker to finish from the edge of the area.
But Australia recovered well, responding with a trademark headed goal by star forward Tim Cahill in the 35th and giving the Chileans a string of scares in the second half. However, Jean Beausejour put the game away for Chile in injury time to help the South Americans level on three points in Group B with the Netherlands, which thrashed Spain 5-1 earlier Friday.
Boasting its best ever squad for a World Cup, Chile has been strongly tipped by many — including Pele — to go far in Brazil despite being thrown in the same group as two of Europe’s top teams.
And the Spanish, ripped apart by the Dutch in Salvador, will not be relishing playing Chile in their next game on Wednesday, with the holders’ title defense on the line.
Group B Standings
Wins
Losses
Draws
Goals For
Goals Against
Points
Netherlands
1
0
0
5
1
3
Chile
1
0
0
3
1
3
Australia
0
1
0
1
3
0
Spain
0
1
0
1
5
0
Schedule & Results
Friday, June 13 – Netherlands 5, Spain 1 at Salvador, Brazil
Friday, June 13 –Chile 3, Australia 1 at Cuiaba, Brazil
Wednesday, June 18 – noon: Netherlands vs Australia at Porto Alegre, Brazil
Wednesday, June 18 – 3 p.m.: Spain vs Chile at Rio de Janeiro
Monday, June 23 – noon: Spain vs Australia at Curitiba, Brazil
Monday, June 23 – noon: Netherlands vs Chile at Sao Paulo