Arturo Vidal made his much-awaited return from injury as Chile beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in their final World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday.
Vidal, who underwent knee surgery just a month ago, made an unexpected appearance as a 76th-minute substitute, and immediately made an impact.
Two minutes after coming on, the Juventus midfielder made a fine pass to Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez lobbed the ball to striker Eduardo Vargas, who headed in the first goal of the match.
Photo: EPA
Sanchez made another inch-perfect pass four minutes later that Mauricio Pinilla sent into the net to seal the win at the Elias Figueroa Stadium in the port city of Valparaiso.
“The decision to let him play was agreed with both the medical team and Arturo. It was important to let him play some minutes and we got a chance to see him again,” Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli said after the match. “Arturo had a very short recovery and he came were we need him to, thanks to his boldness.”
“He always wanted to play this game, and although we had some doubts, he cleared them all,” Sampaoli said.
Photo: AFP
“Tomorrow he’ll have to get into the rhythm of things so he can be in the opener... It no longer depends on his knee, but on the level for competition,” he added.
Vidal underwent knee surgery on May 7 and had been in doubt for Chile’s World Cup opener against Australia on Friday next week.
Chile are also to play defending champion Spain and 2010 finalist the Netherlands in Group B.
Photo: Reuters
Throughout the match, midfielder Jorge Valdivia orchestrated Chile’s attack and created good scoring opportunities that were denied by superb saves by goalkeeper Roy Carroll.
Chile continued to struggle to find a way past a defiant Northern Ireland defense until Sanchez, Vidal and Vargas showed the class that Chile will rely upon at the World Cup, which begins on Thursday next week.
URUGUAY, SLOVENIA
AP, MONTEVIDEO
Goals by Edinson Cavani and Christian Stuani lifted Uruguay past Slovenia 2-0 in a World Cup warm-up game on Wednesday.
With the exception of star Luis Suarez, who is recovering from knee surgery, Uruguay were at full strength for the match. Uruguay hope to at least repeat their performance at the World Cup four years ago, when they made the semi-finals before losing to the Netherlands.
Cavani opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a strong header off a perfect pass from playmaker Diego Forlan.
Forty minutes later, Stuani clinched the win, after Cavani set him up for an easy shot into an unguarded net.
Uruguay are to open their World Cup campaign against Costa Rica on June 14.
Slovenia did not qualify.
ARGENTINA, T&T
AP, BUENOS AIRES
Goals by Rodrigo Palacio, Javier Mascherano and Maxi Rodriguez led Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup warm-up on Wednesday.
Argentina dominated Trinidad, a non-World Cup qualifier, from the beginning, but struggled to find the net. Palacio scored near the end of the first half with a header.
The hosts made it 2-0 after star striker Lionel Messi hit the post with a free kick. Mascherano was in position to send home the rebound.
Rodriguez, who came on as a substitute, finished off the scoring after a pass from Palacio.
It was a strong showing for Argentina, one of the World Cup favorites. They are to begin their campaign in Brazil on June 15 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but first are to meet Slovenia in a friendly tomorrow.
IVORY COAST, EL SALVADOR
Reuters
Goals from Gervinho and Didier Drogba gave Ivory Coast a comfortable 2-1 win over El Salvador in a friendly in Frisco, Texas, on Wednesday.
Ivory Coast, who are to face Colombia, Greece and Japan in Group C at the World Cup, moved the ball with confidence and purpose and grabbed an early lead in the ninth minute.
Drogba, dropping deep, threaded the ball through to Gervinho, who coolly rounded El Salvador goalkeeper Derby Carrillo and slotted home.
The roles were reversed for Ivory Coast’s second goal, three minutes before the interval, when the impressive Gervinho burst down the left flank and crossed low to Drogba, who slid the ball home.
With the game firmly in hand, Sabri Lamouchi’s team were content to play for possession, while El Salvador struggled to create chances.
It was not until the 73rd minute that Ivory Coast keeper Boubacar Barry was truly tested, when Darwin Ceren unleashed a left foot drive that was pushed wide.
Two minutes later, El Salvador were awarded a penalty after Kolo Toure recklessly charged into Jonathan Aguilla as they two contested a header, and substitute Arturo Alvarez converted the spot kick.
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