Villa shoots Spain into last four

Paraguay 0
Spain 1
Villa 83

David Villa scored the only goal as European champions Spain beat Paraguay 1-0 at Ellis Park last night to set up a World Cup semi-final against Germany.

Villa struck the winner seven minutes from the end of what had been a disjointed quarter-final performance from the fancied Spaniards in a game that saw both goalkeepers save second-half penalties.

Germany, who lost to Spain in the Euro 2008 final, had earlier thumped Argentina 4-0 in Cape Town (see page 101).

Paraguay made a good start to the match and created two chances in the first 10 minutes.

Jonathan Santana shot too close to goalkeeper Iker Casillas from 20 yards and then Cristian Riveros failed to hit the target with a header from Victor Caceres's pinpoint cross.

Spain were out of sorts with even Barcelona playmaker Xavi uncharacteristically wasteful with his passing. However, he finally brought a spark to the European champions' play when he hit a dipping volley just over the bar.

Four minutes from the break Paraguay had the ball in the net as Nelson Valdez latched onto a long ball and slotted home into the bottom corner but his strike was ruled out for offside.

Out-of-form Fernando Torres remained an isolated figure up front and it was not surprising that Spain coach Vicente del Bosque replaced him with Cesc Fabregas.

The game burst into life around the hour mark.

Paraguay had a golden opportunity to take the lead on 59 minutes when Gerard Pique was penalised for hauling down Oscar Cardozo in the box.

But Cardozo missed the resulting penalty with Spain captain Casillas guessing the right way to make the save.

Spain then went straight up the other end and Antolin Alcaraz was adjudged to have tripped Villa in the area. Xabi Alonso stepped up to bury the penalty but was ordered to retake it as Spanish players had encroached.

Second time around he changed sides but Justo Villar then guessed right and saved before Sergio Ramos's follow-up was blocked on the line.

Spain finally got the breakthrough on 83 minutes after a typically swift passing move through the heart of Paraguay's defence.

Iniesta laid the ball to Pedro on the right and although his shot came back off the far post, it fell kindly to Villa whose own curled effort nestled in the net after coming off the woodwork.

In a frantic finale Casillas dived at the feet of Roque Santa Cruz to prevent an equaliser while Villar then stopped Villa from making the game safe.

Comments

"We didn't play well mainly because we didn't get enough of the ball," said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque.

"We are now among the four best teams in the world. Our next opponents are Germany who are the best team at the moment."

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino said his side paid the price for not taking the opportunities which came their way.

"We had chances but didn't take them. But never mind. I congratulate my players for their progress at the World Cup," he said.

Paraguay
Villar, Veron, Da Silva, Alcaraz, Morel, Riveros, Barreto (Vera 64), Caceres (Barrios 84), Santana, Valdez (Santa Cruz 72), Cardozo.

Spain
Casillas, Ramos, Puyol (Marchena 84), Pique, Capdevila, Busquets, Xavi, Alonso (Pedro 75), Iniesta, Torres (Fabregas 56), Villa.

Referee: Batres (Guatemala).

Yellow cards: Pique, Ramos; Alcaraz, Caceres, Morel, Santana.

Attendance: 55,359.