By IANS/EFE,
Johannesburg : A late goal by star striker David Villa gave Spain a 1-0 victory over Paraguay here and helped it secure a spot in the final four of the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.
Saturday’s victory was a special one for La Roja and its die-hard fans, as Paraguay had several opportunities to take the lead before Villa, now the top scorer in South Africa with five goals, found himself in the right place at the right time in the 81st minute.
The match at Ellis Park was just a minute old when Paraguayan midfielder Jonathan Santana launched the first shot on goal, a low strike that star keeper Iker Casillas was able to smother.
The South American squad came closer to scoring in the first half than its more highly regarded European opponent, whose most promising chances consisted of solitary forays by Villa and a shot from midfielder Xavi Hernandez that sailed over the crossbar.
Vicente del Bosque’s side had a clear advantage in time of possession through the first 40 minutes, but nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.
Then in the span of six minutes at the end of the first half, Paraguay had two excellent chances to take the lead.
The first came in the 40th minute when Nelson Valdez received a long pass and beat Casillas, although Paraguay’s elation was quickly replaced by disappointment when forward Oscar Cardozo – who had also moved toward the approaching ball, though without touching it – was ruled offside and the goal was disallowed.
Then just before halftime, Valdez, marked by Carles Puyol, made a charge down the left side and fired a strong shot that sailed over the crossbar.
Although Spain’s play improved a bit after the break, that didn’t stop Del Bosque from bringing in Cesc Fabregas as a substitute for the struggling Fernando Torres in the 56th minute – a move that preceded the wildest stretch of Saturday night’s quarterfinal.
First Spanish defenseman Gerard Pique received a yellow card for taking down Cardozo in the box, setting up a penalty kick – also by Cardozo – that Casillas dove to his left to save.
Then two minutes later, in the 59th minute, Spain’s Villa was taken down by defenseman Antolin Alcaraz in the Paraguayan area, setting up a penalty to be taken by Xabi Alonso.
The Spanish midfielder scored but referee Carlos Batres ruled that Spain was encroaching and ordered the kick be retaken.
On the second try, goalie Justo Villar guessed right and blocked Alonso’s shot, but the ball remained alive and the Spanish players wanted another penalty on what appeared to be a takedown of Fabregas by the keeper.
But no foul was called and the score remained 0-0 after one of the most nerve-racking stretches of this year’s World Cup.
Spain has suffered many World Cup disappointments in the 60 years since finishing fourth at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, and Saturday’s match would have ranked as one of the Iberian nation’s most heart-breaking losses if defeat had been in the cards.
Thanks to Villa, it wasn’t.
In the 81st minute, Andres Iniesta beat a pair of Paraguayan defenders before passing to Pedro Rodriguez, who had come on as a substitute just minutes earlier.
Rodriguez’s shot hit the goalpost but ricocheted back to Villa, who fired a delicate strike that hit the other goalpost and bounced along the goal line before entering the goal on the other side.
Spain seemed to have the match in hand with a 1-0 lead and just nine minutes to go, but more heroics were needed from Casillas, who saved one attempt from Lucas Barrios and then a follow-up shot from Roque Santa Cruz in the 88th minute to keep Paraguay scoreless and send Spain into the semifinals.
Next up for La Roja Wednesday will be Germany, which humiliated Argentina 4-0 in Saturday’s other semifinal in Cape Town.