FOOTBALL NEWS FROM World Cup 2014
Navas strike denies Chile
Jesus Navas scored a 92nd minute equaliser to deny Chile a famous win in a pulsating 2-2 draw with World and European champions Spain in Geneva.
Eduardo Vargas waltzed through the static Spanish defence to score the opener as Chile dominated long periods of the first half.
Spain equalised against the run of play when Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado sent a bullet header beyond Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Vargas produced a sublime turn and shot to put the Chileans back in front, but Manchester City winger Navas broke their hearts with a scrappy equaliser in the dying moments.
Chile had lost all four of their previous meetings with Spain, and came into this fifth meeting expected to be rolled over by one of the favourites for next summer's World Cup.
But a below par Spain could do little as Vargas strolled through a gaping hole in their defence and buried a low shot to give Chile an early lead, despite Spain's hopeful claims of offside.
Chile dominated long periods of the first half against a sluggish and disjointed Spain team that lacked the intensity and fluidity for which they are synonymous.
But La Roja levelled against the run of play with their first meaningful attack of the game; Pedro swung in a cross from the right and Soldado sent an unstoppable header into the back of the net..
Chile refused to back down and re-established their lead before the break with some brilliant attacking play by Vargas, who swivelled past Raul Albiol with ease and finished clinically into the bottom corner.
Chile remained on top and appeared to be destined for a famous win, with Bravo making some vital stops - first from substitute Alvaro Negredo and then from his City team-mate Navas.
Chile's resistance was finally broken deep into injury time, when Negredo combined with Pedro down the left, and the Barcelona forward's low cross was directed in at the near post by a fully stretched Navas.
Tweet
Jesus Navas scored a 92nd minute equaliser to deny Chile a famous win in a pulsating 2-2 draw with World and European champions Spain in Geneva.Eduardo Vargas waltzed through the static Spanish defence to score the opener as Chile dominated long periods of the first half.
Spain equalised against the run of play when Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado sent a bullet header beyond Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Vargas produced a sublime turn and shot to put the Chileans back in front, but Manchester City winger Navas broke their hearts with a scrappy equaliser in the dying moments.
Chile had lost all four of their previous meetings with Spain, and came into this fifth meeting expected to be rolled over by one of the favourites for next summer's World Cup.
But a below par Spain could do little as Vargas strolled through a gaping hole in their defence and buried a low shot to give Chile an early lead, despite Spain's hopeful claims of offside.
Chile dominated long periods of the first half against a sluggish and disjointed Spain team that lacked the intensity and fluidity for which they are synonymous.
But La Roja levelled against the run of play with their first meaningful attack of the game; Pedro swung in a cross from the right and Soldado sent an unstoppable header into the back of the net..
Chile refused to back down and re-established their lead before the break with some brilliant attacking play by Vargas, who swivelled past Raul Albiol with ease and finished clinically into the bottom corner.
Chile remained on top and appeared to be destined for a famous win, with Bravo making some vital stops - first from substitute Alvaro Negredo and then from his City team-mate Navas.
Chile's resistance was finally broken deep into injury time, when Negredo combined with Pedro down the left, and the Barcelona forward's low cross was directed in at the near post by a fully stretched Navas.