World Cup: Match 15 - Chile vs. Honduras

At one point the commentator quoted 70% possession and 11 shots on target to nothing for the Chileans in what was perhaps the most one-sided game of the group stage so far. Chile was a pleasure to watch, especially number 7, Alexis Sanchez, whose youthful footwork kept the Hondurans reeling. Despite their ability to move the ball up the field in as little as two incisive passes and a plethora of opportunities inside the box, today Chile lacked that most important piece of the puzzle: the final touch. It's evident from the scoreline and it's evident from the goal that they did score: a ricochet off the backside of Jean Beausejour (who couldn't quite connect on the cross intended for him). To be fair, even though the goal was lucky (i.e. low probability), Chile produced so many chances that not scoring at all was even more improbable. But they will need to play more than a numbers game if they want any chance of beating Switzerland for 2nd place out of the group (1st place is reserved seating, you see).

One missed chance in particular comes to mind. On a set piece in the 65th minute, Arturo Vidal (a defender) chases down the cross and heads it back across the goal to a surprised Waldo Ponce, who finds the ball a yard in front of an essentially empty goal. But instead of blasting the knee-high ball into the roof of the net, he gets down and tries the diving header, which gives the keeper just enough time to recover for a miraculous save. I guess Ponce got caught in "header mode." But that's what you get when your defenders have the majority of chances inside the box: not a lot of goals.

As for the Hondurans, they looked less professional than even the most shoddy African side. But maybe that's because they aren't professionals... How else could you explain an inability to string 5 passes together? Or runs off the ball that started so late the ball had already been turned over? A forward noticeably hesitating to shoot because the ball was on his wrong foot?

Still, for a contest between one side that lacked finishing and another that was distinctly un-professional, this was a hell of show.