Arsenal star Sanchez scores as Chile beat Brazil

Alexis Sanchez: Capped the win late on

Alexis Sanchez: Played for Chile despite calf injury

Chile defeated Brazil 2-0 in their opening World Cup qualifier with goals from second-half goals from Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez.

Vargas (72) side-footed home in Santiago before Arsenal star Sanchez sealed it late on for the Copa America champions on Thursday night.

The hosts had been the better of the two sides with Sanchez and Mauricio Isla hitting the woodwork and it was no surprise when Hoffenheim star Vargas made the breakthrough.

Dunga’s Brazil were without suspended star Neymar and his replacement Hulk struggled to make an impact as Chile recorded just their first win over Brazil since 2000.

The opening half-hour passed by without any real incident, but Sanchez came close to scoring in the 42nd minute when he turned an hit the post.

The game opened up after half-time and the hosts were denied by the woodwork once more.

Isla fired a powerful angled shot from the edge of the box, but the upright denied him, before Mark Gonzalez dragged a shot across goal after being played in by Vidal.

But Chile were not to be denied and from Matias Fernandez’s free-kick from the right Vargas side-footed home past Jefferson.

Brazil almost levelled immediately when Ricardo Oliveira just missed out on getting on the end of Willian’s low cross.

However, Chile wrapped up their win in the 90th minute as Sanchez and Vidal played a one-two, and the Arsenal man went on to poke the ball over the line as Chile marked the opening day of CONMEBOL qualifying with a victory.