Football
8y

Beating Brazil earns Chile more respect, says Jorge Sampaoli

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli said that beating Brazil on the heels of a Copa America title "earn Chile respect worldwide."

The defending Copa America champions kicked off their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat of Brazil in Santiago on Thursday as Eduardo Vargas' side-footed volley snuck past Brazilian goalkeeper Jefferson in the 72nd minute. Alexis Sanchez then capped off a fine interchange with Arturo Vidal in the 90th minute to secure the points for the hosts.

Brazil, who were playing their first World Cup qualifier in six years, were without the services of Barcelona star Neymar as he serves the remainder of a four-game international suspension.

"Beating Brazil, the five-time champions, is something really important for Chile. I am saying that we beat a team of talented players who surely will be at the next World Cup," Sampaoli said.

"Beating Brazil is like beating the best. We are coming off a win over Argentina and now Brazil. This puts Chile in a top place, not me, because it earns us worldwide respect. Beating teams like this gives us hope that we can qualify for Russia."

Despite injury concerns surrounding Sanchez and Vidal, both started for Chile as Sampaoli used almost the same starting XI that beat Argentina at Copa America with the only change being Gonzalo Jara in for Charles Aranguiz.

The victory was just Chile's eighth in 71 meetings against Brazil and first since 2000. Chile travel to Lima to face Peru on Tuesday.

"It was a hard game as all the games have been. The first half was really equal and the second half, we had four or five chances that didn't work and Chile took advantage of two of their three opportunities in the second half. But before that, the game was in the balance," Brazil coach Dunga said.

Sampaoli credited his team for their solid defensive display.

"The rival had virtually no chances on goal and we are talking about a team like Brazil, who usually create chances. They know than this game was really important for us, to get what we are looking for in this stage is going to be really hard and just a big step because we beat a team that always beats us. That helped us to the next game with Peru."

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