World Cup 2010: Full time report - Spain beats Portugal 1-0 Villa scores
The European champions completed a hard fought 1-0 win against the determined Portugal team who ended up with 10 men in the end. In a match that was full of inspiring moments, there were numerous silky moves made by both teams but it surely was Spain who were the dominant side. Spain’s progress to the final 8 of the 2010 World Cup was well deserved, courtesy another goal from their highest scorer in the world cup David Villa. Spain will now get ready to square off against Paraguay in the quarter final.
Spain were all over Portugal in the first half, Torres right from the kick off stormed into the Portugal box and took a shot that went wide. His strike partner David Villa was not to be left behind and in quick succession had 2 efforts on target saved by Eduardo. It was Spain all over in the initial stages but Portugal did manage to get into the game and made a number of moves of their own. Ronaldo tried his luck from 40 yards through a free kick, but Casillas was able to deal with it. The first half continued to be an end to end affair, with both teams having equal chances but the man marking from each end was probably the thing keeping the score at 0-0 till the half time.
There were 2 defining moments for both teams, first a yellow card for Spain, and more importantly a goal conceded by Portugal, the card certainly did not harm Spain much but the goal ended the Portuguese dream.
Spain came out in the 2nd half with probably the advice from Bosque, and that is exactly what they did and did it better then the first half, completely dominating the game.
Spain tried to create an opening, Portugal countered with pace but were stopped midway, and soon Spain were at it again. Just for a split-second it looked like Andres Iniesta might have had a shooting chance on the edge of the Portugal box, but Raul Meireles got in double fast to nick the ball away.
Then came probably Portugal’s first best move of the half, Portugal broke with electric pace again and Hugo Almeida's cross from the left was deflected by Carles Puyol - it looped horribly into the air and for a second Iker Casillas thought it was falling in, but it went inches wide of the far post.
Spain then slowed things down to some degree and were being patient trying to work an opening. David Villa tied up Andres Iniesta on the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked.
David Villa was just menacing, as he once again tried to play a one-two with Andres Iniesta, but the striker went to ground too easily and nothing was taken notice of by referee Hector Baldassi.
Then came first change of the match one for both sides in fact, Portugal sent on Danny for Hugo Almeida, while Spain curiously hauled off Fernando Torres and brought on like-for-like Fernando Llorente
Fernando Llorente got straight into the action and found himself at the end of a Sergio Ramos cross from the right, but his header was straight at Eduardo from five yards, while moments later David Villa drilled narrowly wide from 22 yards.
Then came the defying moment; It felt like Euro 2008 all over again. Spain played some quick fire passes on the edge of the box, with Andres Iniesta at the heart of it, and after Xavi's flick put David Villa in on the left, his first shot was saved by Eduardo but he got a 2nd bite and his second shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced the right side of the line for Spain.
There was just a slight doubt over whether David Villa was onside from Xavi's flick, but considering the referee blunders in the world cup it was only fair.
Portugal looked shell shocked from then on, completely losing their shape, while Spain continued to press on and could have had at least 2 more goals. Portugal, in search of the goal, committed too many men forward and Spain took full advantage attacking on the counter numerous times. It was only the brilliance of Eduardo that kept them out.
It got worse for Portugal when Joan Capdevila went down under a suspected off-the-ball challenge from Costa, and Costa was given straight red.
Portugal were then left with disparate long range efforts, and their star captain Ronaldo was almost invisible in the 2nd half. Spain held on for a much deserved win in the end.
Tags: