June 13, 2014
Chile's Jorge Valdívia following a gorgeous direct hit into the net. It was the second of three goals to be had by Chile in a match against Australia.
Chee! Chee! Chee! Leh! Leh! Leh!
If today's game was any indication, we may have that chant in our heads for many weeks to come. Chile did not hold back today against a somewhat passive Australian team whose lack of stamina is accurately reflected in the final score.
The last time these two teams battled was in the 1974 World Cup in Berlin. While the game itself, final score 0-0, may not have been very exciting, the historical context in which it was played, 9 months after a military coup and the installation of the Pinochet dictatorship, was one of the darkest in Chile's history.
A Team Held Captive: Under the shadow of Pinochet, the Chilean team play Australia in a scoreless match at the 1974 Berlin World Cup.
Almost 25 years, one major earthquake, tsunami and 33-rescued miners later, the stalwart nation of Chile clearly has its eyes on a brighter future, perhaps one that entails a green and gold trophy.
Other game scorers: MEXICO--Alexis Sánchez, Jean Beausejour; AUSTRALIA--Tim Cahill
This match was played at Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá, Brazil:
Aesthetic Value: ***** out of 5 (based on inside of stadium).
Fear (of collapse) Factor: 2 out of 5.
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