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Chile knock out Spain, join the Dutch in last 16

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Rio de Janeiro, June 19 (IANS) Defending champions Spain suffered an early exit after being stunned 2-0 by highly-spirited Chile who, along with the Netherlands, reached the last 16 of the World Cup from Group B.

The Netherlands reached the knockout round with a 3-2 victory over Australia, reports Xinhua.

Australia, who lost their opening game against Chile 1-3, were also sent packing.

Spain became the first reigning champions to be out of the World Cup after just two matches.

In Group A, Mario Mandzukic scored twice on his return from suspension as Croatia eliminated 10-man Cameroon with a 4-0 rout in Manaus.

Ivica Olic opened the scoring at the Arena Amazonia stadium with a powerful finish after Ivan Perisic’s deft through ball.

Cameroon were reduced to 10 men late in the first half when Alexandre Song was shown a straight red card for a reckless right-handed swipe at Mandzukic.

Perisic scored his team’s second after careering into the penalty area and drilling his shot past Charles Itandje.

Mandzukic’s header made it 3-0 before the Bayern Munich forward doubled his tally with an easy tap-in.

The result ended Cameroon’s hopes of advancing beyond the group stage in Brazil and extends their miserable recent record at the World Cup finals.

The Indomitable Lions have managed just one victory on football’s grandest stage – a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in 2002 – since they became the first African side to reach the tournament’s last eight in 1990.

Croatia, meanwhile, still needs to win their last group match against Mexico to be guaranteed a berth in the round of 16.

The Oranje, led by Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, scored two goals in the second half en route to the victory.

But the Dutchmen had a slow start, and the Australians kept threatening Jasper Cillessen.

The first goal came at the 20th minute. Bayern Munich left wing Robben used his speed to break the Australian defence. He picked the ball around the halfway and entered the box before the opponents had time to complete the defending line. Robben hit the ball past Ryan with his left foot, marking his third goal in the tournament.

However, Australia made the response just one minute later. Everton star Tim Cahill met the long cross-field pass and powered the shot into the net after it hit the underside of the bar.

Australia found another chance 54 minutes into the match. Oliver Bozanic, who went on the pitch as a substitute just two minutes before the play, cut in from the left side of the box, and his pass hit the hand of Netherlands defender Daryl Janmaat. Australia was awarded a penalty, and captain Mile Jedinak converted from the spot.

Australia didn’t stay in the leading place for long. Netherlands captain Van Persie got his chance on the left side of the box. The Manchester United forward found his goal, hitting the roof with a powerful strike to level the score again. The 58th-minute score was his third in the tournament.

It was time for Netherlands to score again. Memphis Depay, who stepped on as a replacement of Indi, fired from outside the box. The shot made an unusual curl, moving past Ryan to reach the net.

The rest of the match belonged to the Oranjie. The Socceroos fought hard trying to turn the match around, but they couldn’t score any more.

Spain coach Del Bosque said after the defeat that his team did not play well in the first half of today’s game and the second half of the Netherlands’ game.

“We played too shy and did not show courage today, and Chile’s aggressive style made much trouble to us,” Bosque said.

Valencia striker Eduardo Vargas gifted Chile the 1-0 lead in the 20th minute when Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez burst through the Spanish defence, finding Charles Aranguiz free. Aranguiz made a through cross to Vargas who touched past the stranded Spain keeper Iker Casillas and hammered home.

Aranguiz lifted Chile to 2-0 in the 43rd minute when Sanchez hit a free kick from distance which Casillas punched out unconvincingly. The ball dropped to Aranguiz and he poked at goal past the wrongfooted Casillas.

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli said after the duel that his team played its own football, the style of which the players are very familiar with.

“We will not change our playing style in the last group match against the Netherlands,” he said.

The Netherlands will take on Chile in their last group match. With both having advanced to the knockout stage, their clash will decide the group winners.

The Group B qualifiers will face the winners and runners-up of Group A containing hosts Brazil, Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon.

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