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Confederations Cup 2017: Bravo heroics enable Chile to edge Portugal

La Roja were utterly dominant in a tense penalty shootout, while the Iberians simply fell apart!

Confederations Cup 2017: Bravo heroics enable Chile to edge Portugal

Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo exults after his side's victory (Photo: AFP)

Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo reeled off an incredible three saves as Chile edged Portugal 3-0 (0-0 AET) on penalties in a dramatic 2017 Confederations Cup semi-final at the Kazan Arena on Wednesday night. 

Cristiano Ronaldo’s affinity towards being the final spot-kick taker was again highlighted as Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani all fluffed their lines while Chile’s Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz and Alexis Sanchez kept their nerve for La Roja

It was a match that saw plenty of cautions (seven in all, five for Portugal and 2 for Chile), but not a single goal despite being an extremely open-ended contest. 

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Alexis Sanchez set up Eduardo Vargas for a one-on-one with Rui Patricio early on, but the Portuguese shot-stopper was quick off his line to deny the Chilean. 

Meanwhile, Ronaldo's low cross from the left gave Andre Silva a chance to open the scoring but Bravo took a leaf out of Patrico’s play-book to smother the ball and preserve his side’s clean sheet. 

Chile would have one last opportunity to score before half-time, but Charles Aranguiz skewed his volley horribly wide after a cross from the left had found him unmarked in the Portugal box. 

The second period began with La Roja dominant but they were profligate in front of goal, with Arturo Vidal guilty of a shocking miss, heading high and wide from an excellent Jean Beausejour cross. 

Vargas came close again to breaking the deadlock, but his acrobatic bicycle volley was smartly parried for a corner by the excellent Rui Patricio. 

Portugal weren't threatening much, with Ronaldo cutting in and shooting straight at Bravo from an acute angle on one occasion and heading wide on another. 

Match referee Alirezza Faghani blew the whistle for 90 minutes with the scores reading 0-0 and it would remain that way despite a frantic extra-time period.

Andre Gomes had a perfect chance to land the killer blow but shot high after cutting in from the right but Portugal were lucky to go into the penalty shootout after Chile hit the post twice in a span of seconds in the final stages of the game. 

La Roja then made up for their wastefulness in open play by three clinical penalties, with each player sending Patricio the wrong way. Portugal on the other hand, were undone by the Bravo's brilliance, who guessed the right direction on all the attempts. 

For a man who was severely criticised during his debut season with English Premier League side Manchester City, this was the perfect riposte to the critics who mocked him for seemingly being unable to make a single save.  

Chile will face the winner of Thursday’s semi-final, between Germany and Mexico on Sunday’s final for a chance to lift their maiden Confederations Cup title.

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