Football: Sanchez, Vargas strike as Chile sink Brazil

SANTIAGO (AFP) - Chile scored their first victory over Brazil in 15 years on Thursday after goals from Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez sent the five-time world champions spinning to a 2-0 defeat as South America s 2018 World Cup qualifiers got under way.

Vargas, one of the heroes of Chile s victorious Copa America campaign, picked up where he left off in that tournament with a wonderful volleyed finish on 72 minutes to fire the hosts into the lead at Santiago s Estadio Nacional.

Arsenal star Sanchez then applied the coup de grace in the 90th minute, jabbing home from close range after a wonderful flowing move which ripped Brazil s defence apart.

Brazil had been desperate to move on from a disappointing Copa America campaign which followed their humiliating 7-1 drubbing against Germany in last year s World Cup semi-finals.

But the Brazilians, badly missing suspended captain Neymar, struggled to find a way through a physical Chile side who were fortunate to finish the game with 11 men on the pitch.

A hardfought first half was light on goal scoring chances, with the best efforts coming in a flurry of action shortly before half-time when Chile almost took the lead through Sanchez.

The Arsenal forward crashed a shot against the post on 42 minutes with Brazilian keeper Jefferson beaten. Moments later Gonzalo Jara forced the Brazilian keeper into a save with a low shot.

Brazil then had their best chance of the game, with recalled striker Hulk, deputising for Neymar, testing Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo with a rasping angled shot.

Chile hit the woodwork again early in the second half through Mauricio Isla before the breakthrough came through Vargas.

The 25-year-old Hoffenheim forward lost his marker superbly before steering home Matias Fernandez s free-kick at the near post to send the home crowd into raptures.

With the clock ticking down, Chile doubled their lead, Sanchez finishing at the second attempt from Arturo Vidal s low cross on 90 minutes.