‘Brazil were lucky’

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari accepted that luck was on his team's side after they scraped into the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals by beating Chile on penalties.

"If you don't exploit the few opportunities you get, you can go out," Scolari said, whose side triumphed 3-2 in a shoot-out at the Estadio Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte after a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes and extra time. "We almost paid the price in the 118th minute when the ball hit the bar."

Brazil squandered several chances, converting just one of 13 attempts on target due to poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Chile's Claudio Bravo. And they survived when Chile substitute Mauricio Pinilla crashed a shot off the woodwork with penalties approaching.

In the shoot-out, Willian and Hulk both missed for the tournament hosts but goalkeeper Julio Cesar made two crucial saves from Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez before Gonzalo Jara hit the post when he had to score to keep Chile in it.

"The Brazilian people needed this, and so did the players," Cesar said. "We knew how difficult it would be. I hope that our coming matches don't go to penalties, because otherwise our families will end up having heart problems."