World Cup - Day 17 - Chile not hot enough. Uruguay toothless. Brazil will face Columbia in quarters.

Today marks the first day of the knock-out stage. It is win or go home (or in the case of Brazil, stay home)

Brazil 1 (3) - Chile 1 (2)

Opa! Opa! Opa!

The bar in Boa Viagem began to fill about 11:30 am, 90 minutes before kickoff. By 1:00 pm Brasilia time, the food, drink, and football were flowing.

It looked promising early, with David Luiz being credited for a goal that looked like an own-goal by the Chileans to me. But the Chileans remained poised, and equalized about 15 minutes later.

With each passing minute, the Brazilians on the pitch looked tighter and tighter, despite having more possession. The Chileans looked relaxed and fluid. It was clear that all the pressure was on the Brazilians.

Words cannot express the tension throughout Brazil as this game began its inexorable march towards kicks from the penalty mark.

There were a lot of questionable calls, and whenever Brazil started to generate some rhythm, the Chileans would either foul or dive, sometimes achieving both simultaneously.

The score remained 1-1 at half-time, through the end of regulation, and throughout the mandated 30 minutes of OT (two 15-minute extra periods).

Chile hit the crossbar in the last 30 seconds and the normally relaxed Brazilians nearly had a heart attack. Had they taken Chile too lightly? Could they really be bounced in the first knockout game?

In the packed restaurant, as with those all over Brazil, you could cut the tension with a knife.

When Brazil hit their first two penalties and Chile missed their first two, the country went wild.

But then Brazil went cold and Chile hit their stride.

It was tied 2-2 after four attempts for each side when Neymar stepped up and buried the eventual game winner.

Chile hit their last shot off the post, and Brazil exploded in joy and fireworks.

Júlio César for Presidente!

Opa! Opa! Opa!

Hope you saw it live!

Columbia (2) - Uruguay (0)

James Rodriguez scored two goals, including a beautiful volley off his chest, to power Columbia past toothless Uruguay. James now has 5 goals and 2 assists in Columbia's four WC games this year.

In the quarters, they'll have to face Brazil, who looked vulnerable today.