Chile see off Australia challenge

by Graham Chase - BBC Sport

Alexis Sanchez scored one and made another as Chile started their World Cup campaign with a win over Australia.

Sanchez finished from close range in the 12th minute and then set up Jorge Valdivia to drive in from outside the area two minutes later. Former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill pulled one back with a header from Ivan Franjic's cross before half-time.

After an anxious second half, Wigan's Jean Beausejour's long-range effort added Chile's third in added time. Tipped by many as having a strong chance of progressing from Group 'B', Chile will have been buoyed by the Netherlands' 5-1 win over Spain, who they face on Wednesday. They looked likely to have the luxury of focusing on building a big cushion of goal difference ahead of their meeting with Vicente Del Bosque's world champions when they moved two ahead inside 14 minutes.

But, up against Chile defenders Gary Medel, used in midfield by Cardiff, and Gonzalo Jara, who has just been released by Nottingham Forest, Cahill's threat in the air helped stubborn Australia back into the contest.