Ranked 49 places above their opponents in the FIFA World Rankings, it was no surprise to see Portugal dominate from the outset on home soil.
Only an extraordinary reflex save from Lawrence Vigouroux prevented Ruben Dias from heading in Joao Cancelo’s lofted ball inside five minutes, and Portugal came even closer soon after when Rafael Leao fired at the near post, following a clever Cristiano Ronaldo backheel to send him on his way.
Vigouroux could do nothing to stop the Portuguese captain from slotting home midway through the half, but an offside flag came to his rescue. Leao had shown plenty of promise as half-time approached, but his game was cut short when he got into an altercation with Ivan Roman, leading to a straight red card apiece.
The hosts made a raft of planned changes at the break, but it was one of the starters who almost broke the deadlock as Cancelo’s acrobatic bicycle kick needed tipping over the bar.
However, Portugal didn’t have to wait much longer to edge ahead through a pair of substitutes, as Ruben Neves’ defence-splitting through ball found Goncalo Guedes, who received it in his stride and prodded home.
With 15 minutes to play, A Selecao das Quinas ultimately bagged a second through Bruno Fernandes, who whipped in his 29th international goal.
There was still time for Chile to bag a consolation in a rare attack when Lucas Cepeda sent a low bouncing strike beyond Rui Silva in stoppage time.
It’s just a third defeat in eight games (W4, D1) for interim head coach Nicolas Cordova, who will not feature at the World Cup, with his nation having failed to qualify for a third time in succession after back-to-back last-16 exits in 2010 and 2014.
Meanwhile, eight home games unbeaten (W7, D1) will serve as a confidence-booster for Roberto Martinez’s side, who play Nigeria in their last friendly before facing DR Congo in their group opener in Houston.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ruben Dias (Portugal)
