Bravo is shootout hero
CHILE goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saved three successive penalties to give them a 3-0 shootout win over Portugal after their Confederations Cup semi-final had ended goalless yesterday.
Bravo stopped Portugal’s first three spot kicks from Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani, while Chile converted their first three to win the clash of South American and European champions.
That meant that Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who usually goes last in the shootout, did not get to take a kick, as was the case when Portugal lost to Spain on penalties in the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
The result was justice for Chile after they hit the woodwork with two successive shots in the dying seconds of extra time.
Arturo Vidal struck the post and the rebound fell to Martin Rodriguez who hit the underside of the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
There was controversy shortly before that when Chile winger Alexis Sanchez went down in the box under a Jose Fonte tackle but the referee did not consult the Video Assistant Referees (VARs), even though contact seemed to be made.
Bravo has been criticised for his club form with Manchester City this season but he was Chile’s hero alongside Vidal, who gave another inspired and tireless performance in midfield.
“Claudio was amazing and the penalty-takers were amazing and I think we deserve to be in the final,” said Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi.
“Claudio and the goalkeeping coach had studied the penalty-takers.”
Chile will face either Germany or Mexico, who meet today, in Sunday’s final in St Petersburg to close an exhausting two weeks.
The game only came to life in exasperating patches.
It started promisingly as Chile forward Eduardo Vargas had an excellent chance blocked by Rui Patricio, then Andre Silva’s close-range effort was smothered by Bravo at the other end.
Vargas provided the high point of the second half with a brilliant overhead shot which Rui Patricio saved while Ron- aldo had several second-half chances.
One effort was parried by Bravo, then he sent a longrange free kick high and wide, then had a shot deflected wide and then missed the target with a header from Cedric Soares’ cross.
Sanchez was largely kept under wraps and Chile’s record scorer did not have his first sniff of goal until early in extra time when his header from Mauricio Isla’s cross curled away from the goal.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos pointed out that the same three players who missed took penalties and converted when his side beat Poland in their Euro 2016 quarter-final. “On that occasion, they were heroes,” he said.
MEXICO manager Juan Carlos Osorio said Germany’s young squad are experienced and will not be underestimated when the teams meet in the Confederations Cup semifinals today.
Germany, the World Cup holders, and Concacaf champions Mexico were unbeaten in their respective groups, each finishing with two wins and a draw in three matches.
Germany have rested their more seasoned players for the two-week tournament in Russia, with coach Joachim Loew bringing several newcomers into a squad with an average age of just over 24.
“I think we’re going to play against a team that can be a great example to follow for those who believe in processes, in development,” Osorio said yesterday.
He stressed that many of the Germany squad had extensive experience with the national team as well as from playing in the top European leagues and the Champions League.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re young or not. What really matters is how much experience they have although they are young,” Osorio said.
Loew told reporters yesterday that he did not regret selecting such a young squad for the tournament because it served as a good opportunity to test their strengths.
“It has worked really well as we’ve seen,” Loew said of his team’s performances so far. – Reuters