Brazil got lucky, admits Scolari
June 30, 2014 00:00:00
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil : Brazil\'s coach Luiz Felipe Scolari (R) celebrates after Brazil won their match against Chile in a penalty shoot out after extra-time in the Round of 16 football match between Brazil and Chile during the 2014 FIFA World Cup here S
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, June 29 (AFP): Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari accepted that luck was on his team's side after they scraped into the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday by beating Chile on penalties.
"If you don't exploit the few opportunities you get, you can go out. We almost paid the price in the 118th minute when the ball hit the bar," said Scolari, whose side triumphed 3-2 in a shoot-out at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte after a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes and extra time.
Brazil squandered several chances, converting just one of 13 attempts on target due to poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Chile's Claudio Bravo.
And they survived when Chile substitute Mauricio Pinilla crashed a shot off the woodwork with penalties approaching.
In the shoot-out, Willian and Hulk both missed for the tournament hosts but goalkeeper Julio Cesar made two crucial saves from Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez before Gonzalo Jara hit the post when he had to score to keep Chile in it.
"We had three or four chances to score a (second) goal and didn't do it. We had even possession and more shots on goal, but when you don't score you always run more of a risk," Scolari said before praising his side for coping with the extreme pressure.