There were even tears from Cesar before the shoot-out. "My tears? I'm an emotional person," he said. "I was crying because several team-mates came to be supporting me and telling me nice, beautiful things. What will crown this is to kiss and hold the World Cup with millions of Brazilians."
There was redemption for Cesar as well as salvation – given the way he was blamed for Brazil's exit in the 2010 World Cup for a mistake against Holland in the quarter-finals. "I was labelled a villain," the 34-year-old said. "In four years I had to find the strength. This match proves if you have a dream, go after it."
It was almost surreal, also. As Gonzalo Jara – who had earlier unfortunately scored an own goal – slammed what would be the final penalty against the post it was a defender who has been released by the Championship club Nottingham Forest trying to beat a goalkeeper not deemed good enough for another Championship club. That was simply bizarre given the stakes and the grandness of the occasion.
There was more direct English involvement with referee Howard Webb who threatened the anger of this vast country by correctly ruling out a 'goal' by Hulk, when the scores were 1-1, for handball. There were howls of conspiracy, incompetence, claims that Brazil were playing against the officials and not just Chile and even if it was a marginal call it was the correct one. And it silenced pre-match claims that Webb would be influenced in support of the hosts.
Still it did not silence Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari complaining. "If it's a penalty, it's a penalty. If it's a foul, it's a foul. If it's a goal, it's a goal," he said. "Things were starting to get weird here." They were not. But they were cruel. Cruel that one of these two vibrant nations and their supporters would be losing their team at this World Cup; that it was over for Chile's exuberant coach and their courageous band of players led by the brilliant Alexis Sánchez who Barcelona under-use and who Liverpool want to sign.
Sánchez scored. He drove Chile on and like his team-mates could barely walk at the end. Cardiff City's Gary Medel played with a torn leg muscle but was tenacious and carried on until he simply could not carry on any more.
Arturo Vidal was not fit but he took the fight to Brazil with skill and tenacity and an 'in-your-face' defiance. It was an incredible match-up.
The atmosphere, the surroundings, the pressure – it was all hugely intense and incomparable. Tackles were snapped into, opponents barged over, no space ceded. Every contact led to protests. Every throw-in, corner, free-kick. It was a relentless spectacle. "I told them to fight, be brave and make history," Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli declared. "That is why our matches have been so intense. The players have given everything for Chile and risked their own well-being. They have defended our colours with pride and with bravery." But this was at a new level – just as the decibels also climbed when Brazil scored.
Neymar sent in the corner, needlessly conceded by Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, Thiago Silva flicked it on and there was Luiz to poke the ball over the line. He claimed it, anyway, except the vital touch was off Jara's thigh as he challenged the defender.
But then Brazil were stunned. Chile struck back. And it was down to sloppy play by Marcelo and Hulk and a cool finish from Sánchez. Brazil took a throw-in, Hulk's return ball to Marcelo was lazily short and Eduardo Vargas stole possession to pick out Sánchez who took one touch and, as Silva tried to block, stroked a low shot beyond Cesar.
Brazil needed a response. Their fans were becalmed, their team had paid the price for their loose defending but, all over the pitch, it was delightful chaos. Neymar's header was deflected wide, another attempted clearance cannoned off Fred and over the bar and Bravo tipped away Dani Alves's powerful dipping drive.
Brazil thought they had the breakthrough. It came as Hulk brought down a deep cross and steered the ball beyond Bravo with his knee. As he celebrated, Webb intervened. Hulk's arm was out as he controlled the ball – it was spotted by assistant referee Mike Mullarkey – and the 'goal' was disallowed.
The simmering Scolari, on the touchline, was losing it, imploring Webb but then it was anguish for Chile as Cesar, brilliantly, blocked Charles Aránguiz's powerful first-time shot after the ball had been cut back to him by Mauricio Isla following a clever exchange of passes with Vidal.
The boos began. Chile were gaining too much control and Brazil's emotions had sapped them. In despair the crowd tried to rouse them – screaming "lift yourselves" – and it was Hulk who responded with a powerful shot that Bravo pushed away. Before that and a quick change of feet bought Hulk space to arrow in a cross from the left with Jo running in at the far post. Surely the substitute striker would convert? Instead Jo swiped at the ball, under pressure from Eugenio Mena, and it skimmed off his leg and away.
By now it was Chile who appeared spent, out-on-their-feet, holding on for penalties. But then there was almost the most dramatic of stings as they broke away with substitute Mauricio Pinilla exchanging passes and slamming a shot from the area's edge that had Cesar beaten. It cannoned back off the bar. Brazil survived. "If we had scored we could have mapped history forever," Sampaoli said. He was right.
- In pictures: Glamour, glitz and goals in Belo Horizonte
- Henry Winter: Belief kept Brazil's World Cup dream alive
- How we rank the World Cup teams from 1 to 32
- Spotlight on Howard Webb after controversial decisions
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