Brazil make it eight on the spin with narrow win over Chile

Roberto Firmino came off the bench to snatch the winner as Brazil edged Chile by a 1-0 scoreline to make it eight straight victories in a disappointing friendly played as part of both teams' Copa America preparations.

The Hoffenheim striker showed great composure to round Claudio Bravo and coolly slot home Danilo's exquisite through ball to give the Samba Boys a fortunate triumph 18 minutes from time.

A bumper crowd at Arsenal's Emirates stadium had turned out hoping to see Alexis Sanchez and Neymar sparkle amidst a smorgasbord of South American flair; but what they saw was a contest full of niggle.

Chile's Gary Medel was the protagonist of a dour first 45 as he got away with leaving a nasty foot on Neymar before escaping again when he appeared to handle the ball twice in his own penalty area. Barcelona would have looked on with some concern as Brazil's talisman was on the end of some hard tackling from La Roja as both sides struggled to test either goalkeeper.

After the break the industrious Sanchez curved a free kick just over the bar as Chile continued to pose the greater questions, but it was Brazil who snatched the lead when Firmino struck with a moment of rare quality.

Matias Fernandez came close to an equaliser with a late free kick but Jefferson tipped it around the post to help confirm victory for Carlos Dunga and co.

Pre-match: Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho makes his first start for Brazil under Carlos Dunga alongside Marcelo, Souza and Douglas Costa. Miranda and Neymar remain the only two players to have started every game under the Selecao's new coach. Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez leads the attack for Chile with Internacional star Charles Aranguiz and Cruzeiro left back Eugenio Mena also featuring against the country where they play their club football.

22' - SHOULD CHILE BE DOWN TO 10? Gary Medel is fortunate to escape unpunished as he appeared to leave a foot on Neymar following a challenge that left the Barca man on the floor. If the referee had seen it he would almost certainly have given the Chile defender his marching orders.

28' - PENALTY SHOUT! Medel falls into an attempted pass into the area as he looked to clear. It appeared to brush his arm twice but the referee waved away the appeals. The Inter Milan star is living a charmed life in this half.

72' - GOAL! Brazil 1-0 Chile. Out of the blue it's Brazil who lead. Roberto Firmino races onto Danilo's through ball, rounds the keeper and coolly fires into the empty net.

87' - CHILE CHANCE! Fernandez lets fly with a low 30-yard free kick that Jefferson tips past the post.

In the last nine years, Brazil have scored more goals at the Emirates (11) than at the Maracanã in Rio (10).

Brazil have won their last eight matches meaning Dunga has a 100 per cent record as coach since taking the job after the World Cup.

In eight matches with Dunga, Brazil have not conceded a goal from open play: vs Austria from a penalty and vs France from a corner

(Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada)

What happened to the South American flair? Brazil came into this on the back of seven straight wins while Chile showed they have bags of talent at last summer's World Cup. It was billed as Neymar v Sanchez, and while both showed glimpses of their brilliance, the contest just never happened as a spectacle. Brazil sneaked it but it won't linger long in the memory for either nation as rash tackling took centre stage.

Alexis Sanchez (Chile): Didn't deserve to be on the losing side. The Arsenal forward did his best to spark some magic into a lifeless affair and went close with a free kick.

Brazil: Jefferson 6; Danilo 7, Thiago Silva 6, Miranda 7, Marcelo 7; Souza 6, Fernandinho 5; Douglas Costa 5, Coutinho 5; Luiz Adriano 5, Neymar 7. Subs: Robinho 6, Elias 6, Firmino 7, Willian 6, Filipe Luis 6.

Chile: Bravo 6; Medel 5, Jara 6, Albornoz 5; Isla 6, Millar 6, Aranguiz 6, Mena 6; Vidal 6, Alexis 8, Hernandez 6. Subs: Fernandez 6, Vargas 6, Gonzalez 5.