Chile Outlasts Portugal in Semifinal

               Chile and Portugal began semifinal play yesterday with an eventful scoreless draw after 120 minutes. Andre Gomes found himself in space in the box and was open, but his shot was saved by Chile keeper Claudio Bravo. In the 6th minute, Alexis Sanchez found Eduardo Vargas in the clear, but Vargas put his shot wide of goal. One minute later, Andre Silva got a great cross from Cristiano Ronaldo, but Silva's shot was right at Bravo. After the first 10 minutes, Portugal slowed the game down with lots of passing and possession.
               Chile should have scored in the 54th when Arturo Vidal connected his head to a Jean Beausejour cross. Vidal was just in front of the goal, but headed it over the bar. In the 57th, Portuguese keeper Rui Patricio stopped Vargas' bicycle kick at the near post off the corner to keep the score level. Ronaldo had some looks for Portugal; in the 59th, his close range shot was saved by Bravo; and in the 72nd, his shot was deflected just over the crossbar. The last chance in the final rest 90 was Ronaldo's header wide of goal in the 85th.
            As the game headed to extra time, chances from both teams still came. Sanches thought he won it for Chile with his header, but the ball spun just wide of goal. Chile had a penalty appeal in the 112th when Francisco Silva got tripped up by Jose Fonte, but there was no whistle. Chile should have scored in the 119th when Vidal's curled away from Patricio and hit the bar, and sub Martin Rodriguez' put-back attempt hit off the crossbar.
           After 120 minutes of end-to-end soccer, penalties came. Claudio Bravo made fine stops on Portugal's first free kicks, stopping Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho, and Nani. For Chile, Vidal, Charles Aranguiz, and Sanches delivered for the win. Chile will be in the final facing the winner of Germany-Mexico, while Portugal will face the loser of that game.