Honduras v. Chile 0-1 16/Jun/10

First Round, First Game, Group H, Day 6. (15 of 64)


An Americanista scoring.
[Photo: AP via Daily Mail]


In the opening match of the Spanish-speaking group, the Chileans rose victorious in a quasi entertaining game. For the South Americans the score might have been bigger but their lack of options on attack were sound. On the other side Rueda's men got themselves in a difficult position since they have to literally go and beat the European champions in the following match at Johannesburg.

Another concerning problem for the CONCACAF team is the lack of mobility and fitness some players showed. Despite the tactically perfect offensive display Bielsa's men deployed, there is room for improvement in that department. The Chileans will face Switzerland at Port Elizabeth, as we are left pending with Spain's result today.



Palacios chasing.
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


As the official FIFA match report cleared: "For Chile, it was a victory exactly 48 years in the making – the South Americans had not won a FIFA World Cup match since defeating Yugoslavia in the match for third place on home soil on this very day in 1962." But in reality it took us by no surprise waiting this time for the Chileans to find a gift in the back of the net. Before the lead, Bielsa's team took some advantage through his tactical mastermind. Possession and positioning were the key concepts for the model to work properly.

The match had its equilibrium: where the Chileans attacked, Rueda's men chased and quickly managed to weave some build-ups that ended in fierce rapid strikes. Fernández was the main threat as well as the incursions of Isla. In one of those runs, he crossed to find the unlucky leg of Mendoza, while the deflection went into Beausejour's knee. The strange goal was a solid reward for Bielsa.

In the following half it was the surprise in the very last minutes that could have given the Honduras team an equaliser, but before that, nearly through thirty minutes La Roja had all possession and control. Even when in the official match report (as quoted above) said the "home team" had effective counterattacks, it was only in the first half were the rapid succession of passes led to a good offensive display. Notwithstanding the fact that Rueda's men tried in the final minutes, it seemed very unlikely to me that a distraction could lead them to an equaliser.