Spain, Chile into World Cup last 16
by Jim Slater
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Chile’s goalkeeper Claudio Bravo fails to pull of a shot from
Spain’s midfielder Andres Iniesta during the Group H first round
2010 World Cup football match on June 25, 2010 at Loftus Verfeld
stadium in Tshwane/Pretoria, South Africa. Spain went on to beat
Chile 2-1. AFP
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FOOTBALL: PRETORIA, June 26, 2010: David Villa took advantage
of a blunder by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and also set up an Andres
Iniesta goal to give Spain a spot in the World Cup last 16 on Friday
with a 2-1 victory over 10-man Chile.
Reigning European champions Spain, trying to avoid joining Italy and
France on the World Cup scrapheap after an opening loss to Switzerland,
won Group H on two wins and six points, edging Chile on superior goal
difference.
The Swiss played a goalless draw with Honduras and fell short on four
points. Spain booked a date with Portugal on Tuesday in a last 16 match
at Cape Town while Chile will meet five-time champions Brazil on Monday
at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park. “The match against Portugal will not be
easy,” said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.
“But we are progressing. Fernando Torres played 60 minutes, Iniesta
felt fine. We are in good shape. We are under a lot of pressure but we
know this by living in Spain.”
The Spaniards went ahead in the 24th minute when Villa scored his
third goal of the tournament, matching the overall World Cup scoring
lead.
Xabi Alonso launched a long pass upfield to the onrushing Fernando
Torres with Bravo racing off his line to reach the ball first.
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Spain’s midfielder Andres Iniesta (down) fights for the ball
with Chile’s midfielder Arturo Vidal during the Group H first
round 2010 World Cup football match. AFP |
But the ball deflected into the path of uncovered Villa and the new
Barcelona striker chipped it back from 40 yards into the open goal as
Chile captain Bravo looked on in horror.
In the 37th minute, Villa set up Iniesta and the Barcelona playmaker
scored from just inside the area. Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez sent
off Chile midfielder Marco Estrada seconds after the goal, having seen
him trip Torres in the build-up to the goal.
But 10-man Chile refused to quit.
Second-half substitute Rodrigo Millar pulled a goal back in the 47th
minute, blasting a shot that deflected off the right knee of defender
Gerard Pique and past helpless goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Chile’s Esteban Parades was ruled offside in the penalty area in the
80th minute to doom their last real chance.
The match was physical from the start, a crimson-clad crowd of nearly
42,000 roaring as Spain’s Red Fury faced a South American side known as
The Red.
Rodriguez made three other bookings against Chile in the first 21
minutes, ensuring defenders Gary Medel and Waldo Ponce will not play
against Brazil.
AFP
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