Mbami sends Brazil packing

Shocks abounded in the men's quarter-finals yesterday, with highly-fancied Brazil and Italy going out to Cameroon and Spain respectively, and the defending champions Nigeria hammered 4-1 by Chile.

Brazil were beaten by a golden goal in the 113th minute from Modeste Mbami to secure a 2-1 win for nine-man Cameroon in Brisbane. They will now meet Chile in the semi-finals in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Cameroon led though Patrick Mboma after 17 minutes and were within 60 seconds of winning in normal time when Ronaldinho struck a 20-yard free-kick past 16-year-old goalkeeper Carlos Kameni to send the match into extra time - after Cameroon had just had their second player sent off.

Geremi Njitap had been dismissed after 75 minutes and defender Aaron Nguimbat followed him after tripping Brazilian captain Alex, the foul that gave Ronaldinho the free-kick from which he scored.

Cameroon's teenage keeper had an outstanding game and Brazil struggled against a team inspired by Kameni's heroics in goal, a tenacious display from Lauren in midfield and a driving performance from Mboma up front.

Brazil's coach, Wanderley Luxemburgo, now faces an uncertain future. He was under huge pressure following Brazil's indifferent start to their World Cup campaign and his failure may well cost him his job.

In Melbourne, Rodrigo Tello was Chile's star as three first-half goals set up victory against a Nigerian side that never got into their stride.

Tello set up two goals and scored the fourth himself. He delivered the 17th-minute free-kick from which Pablo Contreras scored with a deft header to make it 1-0. Within 60 seconds, it was two when Tello's cross eluded goalkeeper Gregg Etafia and Ivan Zamorano struck from close range. Reinaldo Navia made it 3-0 just before half-time when he coolly lobbed Etafia.

Tello grabbed a deserved goal after 65 minutes, his low left-foot drive making it 4-0 before Victor Agali claimed a consolation goal for Nigeria 14 minutes from time. Chile now face Cameroon in the semi-final at Melbourne on Tuesday.

The other semi-final, in Sydney, will be between Spain, who beat Italy 1-0 with a late goal from Gabriel Gabri, and the United States, who edged out Japan on penalties.

Spain substitute Gabri turned on a pass from playmaker Xavi before slotting home past Italian goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

The Spanish had the better of a niggly first half, but Italy began to gain the upper hand after the break. However, Spanish coach Inaki Saez Ruiz sent on Barcelona's Gabri in place of Tamudo up front and 16 minutes later the substitute struck.

Afterwards Spanish coach Inaki Saez Ruiz described the game as one of the toughest his players have faced, while Italian coach Marco Tardelli leapt to the defence of his team.

'The ones on the pitch did their job,' he said. 'There has been a lot of talk saying they are being spoiled. They wanted to show they are not spoiled players.' Tardelli refused to comment on speculation linking him to a management position at Inter Milan.

Spain's opponents on Tuesday will be the US. They were twice behind against Japan in Adelaide, with Atsushi Yanagisawa and Naohiro Takahara scoring either side of half-time but Josh Wolff and Pete Vagenas, with a last-minute penalty, rescued the Americans. And their proficiency from the spot saw them through 5-4 on penalties.