Sanchez leads Chile to 3-1 win over Australia
Baku, June 14 (AZERTAC). Chile and its star striker Alexis Sanchez are looking like a serious threat at the World Cup.
Carrying over his prolific form this season for Barcelona, Sanchez scored one goal and set up another to lead Chile to a 3-1 win over Australia in stifling conditions in Cuiaba on Friday.
It was a patchy but ultimately satisfying opening performance in Group B for the Chileans, who are dangerous outsiders in Brazil after their impressive run of results over the past 18 months.
And they now have the opportunity to make a real dent in the tournament — a win over Spain on Wednesday would virtually guarantee eliminating the reigning champions, who slumped to a stunning 5-1 loss to the Netherlands earlier Friday.
Boasting its best ever squad for a World Cup, Chile has been strongly tipped by many — including Pele — to go far despite being thrown in the same group as two of Europe's top teams.
And the Spanish, ripped apart by the Dutch in Salvador, will not be relishing playing Sampaoli's side with their title defense on the line.
Constantly teasing the Australian defense, Sanchez poked home a close-range finish in the 12th minute, before setting up Jorge Valdivia about 70 seconds after the restart for the playmaker to finish high into the net from the edge of the area.
Netherlands lead the show ahead of Chile, Australia and holders Spain.
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