Johannesburg, June 29: It was a mixed bag for former world player of the year Kaka as Brazil strolled past Chile into the quarter-finals at the World Cup.
The Selecao eliminated the Chileans 3-0 with well-taken goals from Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho last night and they will now face the Netherlands in the last eight at Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Kaka, in his first outing back from a one-match suspension for his red card against Ivory Coast, again went into the referee`s book and laid on the final pass for Luis Fabiano`s goal before he was brought off with nine minutes left.
Kaka fell foul of English referee Howard Webb after hacking down Arturo Vidal in the 30th minute, putting him under the threat of another expulsion for his remaining time on the pitch.
The Brazilians were upset that Kaka was sent off in his last match for what they deemed a light push on the Ivorians` Abdelkader Keita, who collapsed theatrically to the ground.
Playmaker Kaka has been slowly finding his form at the World Cup after he was dogged by a thigh injury in his first season since joining Real Madrid from AC Milan last summer.
The 2007 World Player of the Year showed glimpses of his best with two crucial roles against Ivory Coast.
The Real Madrid star was largely a peripheral figure against Chile before he provided the final pass for striker Luis Fabiano`s goal in the 38th minute.
Kaka linked well with Robinho who made the run down the left and quickly released the Seville forward, who nipped past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and side-footed into an empty net.
Brazil snapped into gear after a labouring first half-hour when Roma defender Juan leapt above the defence to powerfully head home Maicon`s corner on 34 minutes.
The five-time world champions made it safe when Robinho beat Bravo for a third time with a sweet finish on 59 minutes after Ramires had swooped on a loose Chilean pass and sprinted from halfway to present Robinho with his scoring chance.
Coach Dunga put his three star attackers, Luis Fabiano, Kaka and Robinho, in cotton wool ahead of their big quarter-final with the Dutch, bringing them all off in the final 15 minutes.
-PTI