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| Brazil's goalkeeper Julio Cesar kisses the flag on his shirt after the World Cup round of 16 match against Chile at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Brazil won 3-2 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 draw after extra-time./AP-Yonhap |
After a dramatic and grueling 120 minutes, Brazil edged Chile in a penalty shootout to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup and set up an all-South American showdown against Colombia.
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A brilliant James Rodriguez led Colombia to its first quarter-final by scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Uruguay, which was missing star striker Luis Suarez who was suspended for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.
Rodriguez leads the Golden Boot race with five goals, and his opener against Uruguay, a stunning volley from distance, will possibly be the goal of the tournament.
After Brazil held a relentless Chile side to a 1-1 draw after regulation and extra time, goalkeeper Julio Cesar was the hero in the shootout, making two critical spot-kick saves as the team went on to win 3-2.
Brazil took the early lead in the 18th minute when David Luiz converted from close range from a corner. Chile equalized in the 32nd minute when Alexis Sanchez drilled a right-footer from the center of the box that found the bottom left corner.
In the shootout, Cesar pressured the Chileans by denying Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez. Chile's Gonzalo Jara hit the post with the decisive spot-kick to trigger wild celebrations inside the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte.
David Luiz and Marcelo had converted their efforts for Brazil, but with Willian and Hulk missing, it fell to star striker Neymar to rescue the hosts from the brink of defeat. Under intense pressure, the Barcelona forward calmly converted what proved to be the winning kick.
Brazil next faces a Colombia team that has won all four matches and is led by budding superstar Rodriguez, who combines creative playmaking with lethal finishing.
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| Colombia's James Rodriguez, left, scores the opening goal past Uruguay's Diego Godin, front, and Egidio Arevalo Rios. /AP-Yonhap |
Rodriguez's opening goal will be replayed on highlight reels for decades.
He gathered the ball on his chest with his back to the goal well outside the box and in one fluid motion turned and fired a left-footed screamer that grazed the crossbar before ripping the net.
He scored his second goal five minutes into the second half when he slipped in a headed pass from Juan Cuadrado from close range.
Uruguay looked toothless without Suarez, now serving a nine-match international ban and four-month suspension from all football-related activities. Aging veteran Diego Forlan did poorly as Suarez's replacement, which freed the Colombians to focus on defusing Edinson Cavani, Uruguay's other world-class striker.
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