Chile vs. Portugal: Final score 0-0, Claudio Bravo sends his team to Confederations Cup final with 3 saves in penalty shootout

Chile are through to the final of the Confederations Cup, having beaten Portugal in a penalty shootout in Kazan on Wednesday. Claudio Bravo saved all three of Portugal’s spot kicks, which came after 120 minutes of disappointing football, with neither side able to break the deadlock in open play.

The game got off to a deceptively bright start, with excellent saves forced at both ends in the first seven minutes. The first was Rui Patrício’s, with the Portuguese keeper blocking a low Eduardo Vargas shot after an excellent throug ball by Alexis Sánchez. Seconds later, Chile’s Claudio Bravo made an even better stop, spreading himself to deny André Silva at the far post on an inch-perfect Cristiano Ronaldo cross.

However, the initial excitement soon gave way to a rather more docile affair. Chile saw more of possession, with Portugal sitting back and looking to play on the counter. Goalscoring chances were at a premium. Chile midfielder Charles Aránguiz was one of the more lively performers, and should’ve done better than slicing Jean Beausejour’s cross wide on the half-hour. However, he redeemed himself a few minutes later, intervening to prevent Ronaldo heading a Bernardo Silva ball into the back of the net.

The first chance of the second half was Chile’s, and once again the impressive Beausejour was responsible for its creation. His deep delivery from the left was met by a leaping Arturo Vidal, though the midfielder mistimed his jump and the header comfortably cleared the crossbar. Rather closer was an acrobatic attempt from Vargas a few minutes later, which Rui Patrício had to turn around the post.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, however, and as the full-time whistle grew ever nearer, Portugal began to take control of the match. Ronaldo twice went close: His first effort was beaten to safety by Bravo’s strong fists, and his deflected second looped viciously and narrowly off target. Chile appeared to be paying the price for their energetic start, and the reigning European champions were growing in confidence.

Even so, they were unable to find a breakthrough before the final whistle sounded and the game headed into extra time.

The brief interval seemed to allow Chile to catch a second wind, and within five minutes of the restart they should’ve been ahead. A good cross by Mauricio Isla was met by a free Sánchez, though his header went agonizingly wide.

The next chance didn’t come until the 119th minute, when Chile rattled the woodwork twice in the space of seconds. Vidal’s drilled shot from the edge of the area bounced back off the post and into the path of teammate Martín Rodríguez, whose prodded effort came back off the crossbar. Portugal somehow clung on, and the referee’s whistle eventually signaled a penalty shootout.

After an even game, the shootout proved incredibly one-sided. Chile scored all three of their spot kicks, with Vidal, Aránguiz, and Sánchez all netting. Portugal, in contrast, missed all three of theirs, with Bravo saving spot kicks from Ricardo Quaresma, João Moutinho, and Nani to send his side into the final. They’ll know who they’ll be facing after Germany take on Mexico in the second semifinal on Thursday.

Portugal: Rui Patrício; Eliseu, Bruno Alves, José Fonte, Cédric Soares; André Gomes (Gelson Martins 116’), Adrien Silva (João Moutinho 102’), William Carvalho, Bernardo Silva (Ricardo Quaresma 83’); André Silva (Nani 76’), Cristiano Ronaldo.

Goals: None.

Chile: Claudio Bravo; Jean Beausejour, Gonzalo Jara, Gary Medel, Mauricio Isla; Pablo Hernández (Francisco Silva 112’), Marcelo Díaz, Charles Aránguiz; Arturo Vidal; Alexis Sánchez, Eduardo Vargas (Martín Rodríguez 86’).

Goals: None.