Chile 2-1 South Africa Chile Mati Fernandez Alexi Sanchez 18' Mati Fernandez 69' Mati Fernandez 9.5 South Africa S. Nomvethe 45' MATCH STATS Chile || South Africa19 Shots 58 Shots on Target 352 Possession 4617 Tackles 141 Fouls 20 Red Cards 01 Offsides 03 Corners 226% Shot Accuracy 60%80% Pass Accuracy 73% Mati Fernandez nets a brace: Leads Chile to World Cup Final Victory After retiring from management in 2011, Blaza Rep made a brief return to football to lead Chile to its first ever World Cup with a 2-1 win over South Africa. In an all action final, Chilean talisman Mati Fernandez once again led the charge against a game South African side. SA began the game seeing alot of the ball, moving through the gears in their 4-1-2-1-2, and looking to find space down the flanks with their speedy wingers. Chile defended a number of good crosses into the area and eventually began working some possession of their own, mainly through central defensive midfieler, Arturo Vidal. Vidal who had an excellent tournament from deep in midfield battled against the South African CAM and really controlled the tempo of the game when in possession. In the 18th minute, Barcelona danger man Alexis Sanchez made a tricky run down the flank, slid a 1-2 ball into Mati Fernandez and continued his run. His intelligent run off the ball took away his marker, and Mati Fernandez got his head up and fired a laser from 22 yards out to make it 1-0 Chile. Chile continued to keep alot of the ball and looked to go into the break at 1-nil, when disaster struck. In the 45th minute, S. Nomvethe struck a low shot that the Chilean keeper saw all the way--but the shot took a wicked deflection and slid into the bottom right corner to knot the game up at 1. Instead of giving his squad the hair dryer treatment at the half, Blaza Rep instead remained calm and explained to his team that these things happen in football. South Africa, however, was fired up and came out blazing in the 2nd half. GK Claudio Bravo made 3 excellent saves in a row to deny SA the go ahead goal. Bravo's excellence fired up Chile who settled back into the match and began to attack SA down the channels. Mati Fernandez played Sanchez into the left flank and stormed into the area. Sanchez hit a specululative shot/cross into the keeper who looked like he had very little to do, but his CB didnt listen to his "keeper" call and instead scuffed a hurried clearance right into the path of the red, hot, Mati Fernandez. The Fiorentina man made no mistake, putting the ball onto his left and blasting a shot into traffic which found its way into the net. South Africa fought to get the equalizer, but Chile was able to hold them off to secure their first ever world cup. Blaza Rep, who has won several club titles, guided Chile through an undefeated run to the Cup and spoke to the media afterwards: "I give all the credit to the Chilean lads. Those who have followed my career know that I am an attack minded manager, and the boys fit into that philosophy very well. We were up against big nations like Germany and Brazil, but we never felt outmatched and guys like Eduardo Vargas, Alexis Sanchez, and Arturo Vidal showed their class. Special clap for Mati Fernandez who just had an outstanding tournnament. To be honest with you, I expected Sanchez and Vargas to carry us during this tournament, but Mati lifted the team by himself on numerous occasions. Even he will till you that he is not the most athletically talented player on the team, but even though he hasnt got pace, his football IQ is through the roof. He rarely lost the ball and always made good decisions, whether it was slipping in a teammate or beating his marker with tricks and skill. Job well done to the boys. VAMOS CHILE VAMOS VAMOS VAMOS!!"GG Timpegoose. That was alot of fun.
