Chile secured their first victory in a World Cup for 48 years today, beating Honduras 1-0, and the only frustration for them was that they should have won by a far bigger margin.
Jean Beausejour scrambled home Mauricio Isla's driven cross after 34 minutes of an impressive display by Marcelo Bielsa's side.
This match in Nelspruit was Chile's first at a World Cup since 1998 but they had not won at the finals since their 2-1 quarter-final triumph over Russia on home soil in 1962.
Today, they stuck to the attacking principles that helped them win more matches in qualifying than any other South American country and settled the better of the two teams from the outset.
They displayed an impressive control in their passing that precious few teams have equalled so far in this World Cup and Arturo Vidal should have given Chile the lead after 26 minutes but planted his free header high over the crossbar.
Honduras, making only their second appearance at a finals and the first since 1982, looked limited in attack and were unable to create much of note but worked hard to close down their opponents as Chile attacked almost incessantly.
Their lead was well earned when Beausejour and a defender met Isla's cross together but the 26-year-old midfielder got the final touch.
The second half became a more open affair — and genuinely one of the most entertaining periods seen so far at these finals — as Chile continued to dominate possession and should have doubled their lead after 64 minutes.
Waldo Ponce had the goals at his mercy as he stooped to head the ball in from inside six yards but Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares somehow kept the ball out diving to his right.
Jorge Valdivia had the ball in the net after 75 minutes but his effort was rightly ruled out for offside.
