MATCH REPORT: Brazil 1 Chile 1 (Brazil win 3-2 on penalties)
Brazil's dream of winning their home World Cup is still intact after they survived a penalty shootout with brave Chile in the second round.
David Luiz bundled the hosts into the lead in Belo Horizonte before a gaping hole in his defence allowed Alexis Sanchez to cancel it out 14 minutes later.
Hulk saw a second-half effort ruled out for handball and Chile substitute Mauricio Pinilla rattled the crossbar in the final minute of extra time.
Luiz, Marcelo and Neymar each netted penalties for the hosts while former QPR stopper Cesar saved twice to setup a nervy finish before Gonzalo Jara struck the post with the final penalty.
Next up for the host nation is another South American encounter, with Colombia waiting in the last eight.
Referee Howard Webb was called into action early on, waving away Hulk's penalty appeal after the winger played a neat one-two with Neymar before taking a tumble in the area.
But Brazil didn't have to wait long for the opener, Thiago Silva flicking a Neymar corner to the back post where Luiz was on hand to steer it home and wheel away – despite suggestions of a Jara own goal.
Chile finally began to enjoy some territory but the hosts were always a threat on the break, Fred and Neymar combining neatly only for the latter to drag a left-footed effort well wide.
But that territory paid off shortly after the half-hour mark when Hulk was caught in possession by Eduardo Vargas and he found Sanchez, who calmly slid the ball into the far corner from 12 yards.
Neymar – never far from the action – almost restored the lead immediately, meeting Oscar's floated cross and watching his header deflect agonisingly wide.
Alves tested Claudio Bravo with a dipping 25-yard effort shortly before the break and Chile almost had the final say of the half, burrowing their way into the area before Luiz scrambled it away.
Brazil thought they had regained the lead ten minutes after the break when Hulk sliced the ball past Bravo, but it was chalked off after the winger was adjudged to have controlled it with his arm – Howard Webb then brandished a yellow card to compound his frustration.
Julio Cesar – largely untested for much of the tournament so far – had to be alert midway through the second half to turn Charles Aranguiz's effort smartly around the near post.
At the other end Hulk crossed for substitute Jo, who couldn't quite connect at the back post, before lashing an effort harmlessly wide from the edge of the area.
Alves was next to produce a teasing cross but Neymar's header was straight at Bravo, who will join the 22-year-old at Barcelona next season.
Hulk then skipped clear of his marker inside the box but Bravo was equal to his snap-shot – Chile flew up the other end in search of a winner but extra time beckoned.
A nervy opening to the added half-hour, and weary legs on both sides, ensured chances were limited as Jo looked to make a nuisance of himself in the Chilean final third
Hulk let off a rifled effort shortly before the break – Bravo once again denied him – and Jo headed Neymar's corner narrowly over after the restart.
Chile were camped inside their own half, thwarting everything the hosts could throw into the 18-yard box, until Pinilla broke clear late on and crashed an effort back off the bar.
Once the shootout was underway Cesar saved his first two – off Pinilla and Sanchez – but failures from Willian and Hulk kept it alive.
Aranguiz and Marcelo Diaz kept their cool before Neymar stepped up to make it advantage Brazil, sending Bravo the wrong way.
Jara was last to make the long walk to the spot and when his effort hit the right-hand upright, Chile's World Cup came to an abrupt end.
Brazil: (4-5-1): Cesar, Alves, Silva, Luiz, Marcelo, Fernandinho (Ramires 72), Gustavo, Oscar (Willian 105), Hulk, Neymar, Fred (Jo 64) Subs not used: Jefferson, Victor, Maxwell, Maicon, Dante, Henrique, Hernanes, Paulinho, Bernard.
Chile: (5-3-2): Bravo, Isla, Silva, Medel (Rojas 108), Jara, Mena, Aranguiz, Vidal (Pinilla 87), Diaz, Sanchez, Vargas (Gutierrez 56) Subs not used: Herrera, Toselli, Albornoz, Fuenzalida, Valdivia, Carmona, Beausejour, Paredes, Orellana.
Referee: Howard Webb.
Attendance: 57,714.
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