JOHANNESBURG — While its fans paraded around the stadium with two huge replicas of the World Cup trophy, Brazil clinically beat South American rival Chile 3-0 to advance to the quarterfinals Monday.
The players were almost nonchalant about yet another victory over a personal patsy — Chile hasn’t beaten Brazil in a decade — as they shook hands and exchanged hugs. They let the folks in the stands do the same samba and the singing as they moved closer to holding the real prize.
Five-time champion Brazil will face the Netherlands, which earlier Monday defeated Slovakia 2-1, on Friday.
Juan opened the scoring in the 35th minute at Ellis Park Stadium with a firm header from near the penalty spot off a corner kick. Luis Fabiano added to the lead in the 38th, receiving a one-touch pass from Kaka and dribbling past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo inside the area before hitting the open net.
Robinho scored his first goal in the tournament with a shot from the top of the area in the 59th minute, a one-timer into the far corner. It was Robinho’s seventh goal in Brazil’s last six matches against the Chileans.
Chile is the first South American team eliminated. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay are in the final eight, and Paraguay plays Japan on Tuesday.
The victory in front of nearly 55,000 fans at Ellis Park extended Brazil’s dominance over Chile. It was the eighth consecutive win; the last loss to Chile was 3-0 in a 2000 qualifier for the 2002 World Cup.
Brazil has now reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup every time since the 1990 tournament in Italy, when it fell 1-0 to Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the second round. Brazil coach Dunga and assistant coach Jorginho were starters in that Brazilian team.
The Brazilians won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups in that span.
Led by Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, Chile kept pace with the Brazilians in the beginning, threatening with some quick ball movement on offense.
But Brazil quickly gained control of the match and created some of the most dangerous opportunities. After Juan’s first goal, the Brazilians took advantage of their speedy strikers to keep the pressure on the Chileans.
Bravo already had to work hard on a long-range shot by Gilberto Silva, diving to his left and barely tipping the ball wide. A minute later, Kaka’s low shot from the top of the area also missed.
Humberto Suazo, back in Chile’s starting lineup after missing the loss to Spain, gave the Chileans their first opportunity in the 13th, but his shot from just outside the box was easily saved by goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Chile was trying to advance past the second round for the first time since its home tournament in 1962, when it lost to eventual champion Brazil in the semifinals. Chile also lost to Brazil the last time it reached the round of 16, 4-1 in 1998 in France.
Brazil again was without regular Elano because of a right ankle injury, and coach Dunga also could not count on defensive midfielder Felipe Melo because of a left ankle problem. It didn’t matter.
Kaka did not play against Portugal because of a red card in the previous match, while Robinho was rested because of a minor left thigh ailment. They certainly were ready Monday night.
Chile was without several starters, including central defenders Gary Medel and Waldo Ponce because of yellow card suspensions, while Marco Estrada was suspended for being ejected against Spain.
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