Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo pulled off three successive saves as Chile defeated Portugal in a penalty shootout to reach the final of the Confederations Cup.
The Copa America champions Chile won the shootout 3-0 in Kazan on Wednesday with Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz and Alexis Sanchez converting their spot kicks after a goalless 90 minutes and extra-time.
Bravo dived twice to his right to save from Ricardo Quaresma and Joao Moutinho, then to his left to stop Nani - all the luckless Portugal spot-kickers were substitutes.
"I don't think it is only luck," the Manchester City keeper said.
"You need to work a lot, inform yourself and study your opponents. I knew what I had to do in the penalty shootout."
Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi was glowing in his praise for the Chile captain and his group.
"Claudio was amazing, the players who scored their penalties were amazing and I think we deserve to be in the final," Pizzi said.
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo pulled off three successive saves as Chile defeated Portugal in a penalty shootout to reach the final of the Confederations Cup.
The Copa America champions Chile won the shootout 3-0 in Kazan on Wednesday with Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz and Alexis Sanchez converting their spot kicks after a goalless 90 minutes and extra-time.
Bravo dived twice to his right to save from Ricardo Quaresma and Joao Moutinho, then to his left to stop Nani - all the luckless Portugal spot-kickers were substitutes.
"I don't think it is only luck," the Manchester City keeper said.
"You need to work a lot, inform yourself and study your opponents. I knew what I had to do in the penalty shootout."
Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi was glowing in his praise for the Chile captain and his group.
"Claudio was amazing, the players who scored their penalties were amazing and I think we deserve to be in the final," Pizzi said.
"We have made a huge effort and I think you could see it during the game."
Chile will play the winners of Thursday's semi-final between world champions Germany and Mexico, with the final on Sunday in St Petersburg.
European champions Portugal can have no complaints. Chile had gone close in extra-time with shots against the bar and post and were also denied a penalty.
"I think it was an excellent game, a good propaganda for football, two excellent teams," Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.
"They both showed they wanted to win.
"Chile were the fair winners and congratulations to them. If Portugal had won we would have been fair winners as well."
Both sides began with early chances, Chile's Sanchez feeding Eduardo Vargas whose shot was blocked by Portugal keeper Rui Patricio.
Just a minute later, Cristiano Ronaldo was then the provider for Portugal with a ball in from the left to Andre Silva who could not beat Bravo in goal from short range.
Aranguiz saw a glancing header wide of goal followed by a chance at the far post which the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder screwed wide in a confident end to the first half by La Roja.
Vidal headed high and wide before Eduardo Vargas saw his overhead kick saved at the post by Rui Patricio as Chile began strongly after the break.
But Portugal came back immediately and Ronaldo found space on the left of the area, putting the ball onto his left foot before firing straight at Bravo in goal.
Andre Gomes shot over for Portugal at the start of the extra period before Sanchez saw his header from Maurico Isla's cross spin just wide of the right-hand post as Chile went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.
Chile thought they should have had a penalty when Jose Fonte caught the foot of substitute Francisco Silva. TV replays showed a foul, but Iranian referee Alireza Faghani chose not to call for a video review.
Portugal then escaped when Vidal struck the post and Rodriguez the bar from the rebound as they hung on for the shoot-out.
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