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Brazil and Chile competed to a 20-20 draw in the second round South American ‘A’ Championship match in São Paulo this afternoon. Despite outscoring the visitors by three tries to two Brazil’s inaccurate goal kicking saw no winner.
As was the case against Uruguay one week earlier, Brazil had an early opportunity to open the scoring through flyhalf Moisés Duque. The São José pivot’s shot at goal sailed wide. Chile regathered to win a penalty of their own and score the game’s opening try though winger José Ignacio Larenas.
The Universidad Católica flyer went over near the corner flag, giving Matías Nordenflycht a difficult shot from an unfavorable angle. The outside center, though, made no mistake to give Chile a 7-0 advantage after seven minutes.
Five minutes later Brazil came close to striking back. Two penalties had Brazil five meters out with an attacking scrum. A wayward pass let down Os Tupis with Chile able to win a penalty and clear their lines.
A long pass from tighthead prop Rafael Carnivalle was intercepted but a knock-on saved Brazil from being 14-0 down after 15 minutes. Os Tupis responded by winning a penalty from the resulting scrum and turning down a kick at goal. No points came from the decision.
Subsequent scrums saw Chile dominate but it was Brazil who controlled the possession and territory. 24 minutes in saw Brazil canceling the try with Guilherme Coghetto crossing in the right corner. Duque’s attempted conversion was off-target making it a 7-5 scoreline.
From the kickoff Los Cóndores gained ground into the Brazil 22, winning a penalty in good field position. Nordenflycht lined up a shot at goal from as Brazil were penalized for being offside. The well-struck attempt gave Chile a five point advantage.
A missed penalty from in front by Duque let Chile off the hook before the balance shifted to the visitors. Raids from Chile deep into Brazilian territory gave Los Cóndores two scoring chances, only to let themselves down through basic knock-ons.
The 10-5 half time lead would be short lived as Diego Lopez crossed for a 44th minute score. Breaking off a maul the Pasteur second row dove over in the left corner. Duque found his boots to kick from wide out to give Brazil the lead for the first time.
Replacement Stefano Giantorno made it back-to-back tries just two minutes later. The winger’s score was unconverted as was a penalty attempt from Nordenflycht shortly after.
With Brazil’s scrum continuing to infringe Chile kicked for the corner in the 53rd minute. Bad handling in the lineout meant no points eventuated but Nordenflycht got Chile back to within one score with a 55th minute penalty.
Persistent pressure from Los Condóres eventually saw Brazil giving way. Following consecutive scrums in the Brazilian half, Benjamín Soto crossed under the posts from a pick-and-go. It gave Chile the lead and Nordenflycht made it a 20-17 scoreline with 10 minutes left to play.
With Chile again failing to recover well from the kickoff Brazil leveled the scores. Duque’s 74th minute penalty set up a nail-biting finish. The game went eight minutes into overtime with Chile attacking deep into Brazilian territory only to knock-on and miss out on a win.
The draw gives both teams one competition point. With it Chile is in second place behind Uruguay who they will face next weekend.
SCORING
BRAZIL 20
Tries – G. Coghetto (24′), D. López (45′), S. Giantorno (48′)
Cons – M. Duque (46′)
Pens – M. Duque (74′)
CHILE 20
Tries – J. Larenas (7′), B. Soto (69′)
Cons – M. Nordenflycht 2 (8′, 70′)
Pens – M. Nordenflycht 2 (28′, 47′)
TEAMS
BRAZIL
1 Jonatas Paulo (18 Lucas Abud HT), 2 Yan Rosetti, 3 Rafael Carnivalle (17 Caíque Silva HT), 4 Lucas Piero, 5 Diego López, 6 Mark Jackson, 7 André Arruda (20 João Luiz da Ros 34′-HT), 8 Nick Smith (capt.) (20 João Luiz da Ros 67′), 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Moisés Duque, 11 Robert Tenório (23 Stefano Giantorno HT), 12 Laurent Bourda-Couhet, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Guilherme Coghetto (21 Beukes Cremer 64′), 15 Daniel Sancery
Not used: 16 Luan Almeida, 19 Arthur Bergo, 22 Philip Veeren
CHILE
1 Claudio Zamorano (18 Nicolás Venegas 70′), 2 Manuel Garruchaga (16 Rodrigo Moya 36′-HT), 3 Luis Sepúlveda (17 José Tomás Munita 61′), 4 Ignacio Álvarez (19 Francisco Hurtado 70′), 5 Raimundo Piwonka, 6 Cristóbal Niedmann, 7 Javier Richard, 8 Benjamín Soto (capt.), 9 Juan Pablo Perrotta, 10 Rodrigo Fernández (22 Francisco González Moller 53′), 11 José Ignacio Larenas, 12 Germán Herrera (23 Matías Contreras 75′), 13 Matías Nordenflycht, 14 Pedro Verschae, 15 Pablo Casas
Not used: 20 Gustavo Carrasco, 21 Beltrán Vergara
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Alejandro Longres (URU)
Assistants: Claudio Cattivelli (URU) & Victor Silverio (URP)
Attendance: 7,270
