The second round of the group matches too full swing on the seventh day of the world cup 2014. This would see the last of the group A matches in the round and both of the group B matches with some teams crashing out of the competition.
We kicked off with the Socceroos taking on the Dutch. Louis Van Gaal’s team would be the first team to qualify if they won the match and Chile drew or beat the Spanish.
The game had a lackluster opening 20 minutes before Bayern Munich’s Robben opened the scoring after making a run from the half way line, surge into the box and drill a low shot past the Australian keeper.
However, in a game that proved more entertaining than expected the Australians leveled the game with Cahill getting what could is certainly a contender for goal of the tournament. Australia’s right back sent in a super cross-field pass towards Cahill who let the ball go over his shoulder before lashing out an unstoppable left footed volley past the Dutch goalkeeper.
The teams went into the halfway break at 1-1 with Australia looking to cause a major upset in the second half.
The second half took off to a slow start but began to get lively after the 50th minute. The Dutch captain, Van Persie, was booked and this meant he would miss the game against Chile before Jedanik put Australia in the lead from the spot in the 54th minute.
The lead didn’t last long though as the Manchester United striker put the Dutch back on terms finding the equalizer in the 58th minute. The Dutch team went on the find the winner in the 68th winner when substitute Depay broke Australian fans heart after riffling a shot from 25 yards out into the back of the net.
Australia pushed forward in the hope of getting another goal but the Dutch easily dealt with the danger to all-but book their place in the last 16.
The second game of the day had Spain take on Chile. The South Americans were looking for their first win over the Spanish and a place in the last 16 while the Spanish knew that nothing short of a win would revive their hopes of progressing into the next round.
The Spanish coach dropped Barcelona pair Xavi and Pique after their lackluster showing in the loss against the Netherlands.
Chile was the first out of the blocks and looked the livelier of the two sides getting their first chance in the 3rd minute. Spain gradually got into the contest but was stunned as Chile took the lead in the 20th minute. Aranguiz latched on to Sanchez’s through ball and squared the ball to Vargas who cleverly side stepped the Spanish keeper before putting the ball into an empty net.
Diego Costa almost pulled the world champions level but could only find the side netting. They were made to pay for that as the South Americans doubled their lead in the 43rd minute. Casillas was the villain yet again after failing to deal with a Sanchez free kick leaving Aranguiz to score from the rebound.
Spain started the second period more energetic and almost pulled one back but Busquets could only skew his shot wide off the post. They tried in every way to get into the game but Chile held on to what will be a famous victory for them and Spain upheld the curse of the world cup winning teams.
The last game of the group will see the Dutch take on Chile to determine who will win the group as Australia and Spain can only play for their pride before heading home.
The last match of the day so Cameroon take on Croatia with both teams looking to bring themselves back into contention for the last 16. The African team was without the talisman Samuel Etoo as the Croatians had their star striker Mandzukic back in the team after serving a one match suspension.
Cameroon settled the fastest into the game but it was the Croatians who took the lead in the 11th minute after Olic fired home from close range.
It got worse for the African team after Barcelona’s Alex Song saw red in dying minutes of the half to send the team into the break a goal and man down.
Croatia took full advantage and doubled their lead three minutes after the restart with Perisic finding the back of the net. It was three after Mandzukic rose highest from a corner to open his account in the 2014 world cup. He then finished off the game with his second and Croatia’s fourth tapping in a rebound in the 73rd minute.
This means that Cameroon crash out of the world cup and sets up an exciting clash in the last game of the group between Croatia and Mexico. Croatia need nothing short of a win to progress while a draw will do it for the Mexicans.