Chile enter quarters

Kolkata, January 15: It wasn't the kind of performance Chile would ever have dreamt of playing against the lowly Bahrain in the Sahara Cup...

Kolkata, January 15: It wasn8217;t the kind of performance Chile would ever have dreamt of playing against the lowly Bahrain in the Sahara Cup here on Monday. Although a 2-0 verdict helped them qualify for the quarter-finals, the performance left a lot to be desired.

8220;I8217;m not satisfied with the performance,8221; was how Chilean coach Nelson Acosta reacted after the match. 8220;In the second session the boys displayed a much better understanding. We hope to put up a much better show in our next match,8221; he added. However, his counterpart, Wolfgang Sidka, felt it was an outstanding performance by his 8220;amateur8221; side against a professional team like Chile. 8220;It was an inspired show by our players especially after the 0-5 thrashing against Uzbekistan in the previous match,8221; he said.

Truly, despite scoring in each half through Hector Tapia 30th minute and Fernando Martel 36th minute it wasn8217;t a convincing win from the Olympic bronze medallist. At times, the defence looked vulnerable against the Bahrain8217;s counter-attacks. For instance, early in the first session a low feeble push by Anwar Yousuf was parried by Chilean goalkeeper Marcelo Ramirez to avoid a possible embarrassment. The mid-field too had to slog out to feed their high-profile attacking trio of Tapia, Martel and Francisco Arrue.

Acosta8217;s trusted trio, however did a commendable job. Particularly, Martel who had a great game on Monday. Functioning from the right channel, Martel infact did the spadework for his team8217;s first goal. Latching onto a long overhead lob, he sped down the right, paused for a while and then released a mouth-watering cross infront a gaping goal. Tapia rushed in to nod his second goal of the tournament.

Soon after the goal, however the Chile had a narrow escape when Yusuf Ammer failed to capitalise on a delectable through by Anwar Yousuf on the left. Yusuf reacted too late and Ramirez had enough time to scoop up the ball from his feet. That perhaps was the only positive move which had threatened the Chilean defence.

For the Latin Americans, better sense prevailed after the interval. A much more organised look in their attack forced Bahrain to pack their defence with more men. But then, Martel was in his best form. He not only was the livewire in the attack he even scored his team8217;s second goal. Fed by Zamorano-lookalike Rodrigo Melendez, once his powerful shot from top of the box had the Bahrain goalkeeper in sixes and sevens. And once again Martel8217;s combination with Tapia with the former8217;s cross and latter8217;s header tested the goalkeeper.

Finally, the 25-year-old striker who plays for Santiago Morning got his reward with a beautiful goal nine minutes from time. It was a concerted move just outside the 18-yard box. Substitute Rodrigo Nunez headed down sweetly onto the path of Martel, whose 20-yard lob zoomed past the flailing arms of the Bahrain goalkeeper.