Villa the hero for Spain

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This article was published 30/06/2010 (5942 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — David Villa finished off a move of Spanish perfection to finally break down Portugal’s defensive wall Tuesday, giving the European champions a 1-0 win and a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Villa scored his fourth goal of the tournament in the 63rd minute, while Cristiano Ronaldo again failed to inspire Portugal.

A trademark Spanish passing move found Andres Iniesta in the centre. He flicked the ball through to Xavi Hernandez, who backheeled to Villa, who was bordering on being offside as he charged in on the left.

The Barcelona-bound striker saw his first shot blocked by Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo, but on the rebound, he coolly slotted home with his right foot.

"It was one of my best goals because it got us through to the next round," Villa said. "Keep scoring so we can keep going."

Portugal’s only defensive weakness had been on its right flank, where Ricardo Costa struggled. He was sent off for elbowing Joan Capdevila in the 89th minute, stifling a late Portuguese drive.

"The match was extremely intense," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "In the second half, we were better than Portugal. We had greater depth in our play, and we controlled the game very well."

Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive player, showed only rare flashes of brilliance at the tournament, however.

"We believed that he can do it," Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz said. "He is our leader, our captain."

Spain will now play Paraguay in the quarter-finals on Saturday at Ellis Park.

Exactly two years after Spain ended a 44-year drought by winning the European Championship, the team stayed on course to become the first European champion to add a World Cup title since West Germany did it in 1974.

Spain was about teamwork, and it showed from the start. Fernando Torres and Villa immediately moved down the left, looking to exploit Portugal’s weakness on right back. Within the first seven minutes, Eduardo had to make three quality saves to keep Portugal in the game on angled shots from Spain’s two strikers.

"His performance was brilliant," Queiroz said of his goalkeeper. "He saved and kept the team fighting for the result."

Portugal went out of the tournament after conceding its first goal in four games.

"To lose by one goal in a championship hurts very badly," Eduardo said.

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After the sterling start, strangely enough, Spain did not continue to pound Portugal’s weak right side and instead settled for the intricate passing game through the centre it has become famous for.

Once Portugal’s defence settled, it proved why it has one of the best in the world, conceding only one goal in its last 12 matches. It clogged play in the centre and Spain got frustrated to the extent that it was reduced to long-range attempts Gerard Pique.

"We never lost our confidence," Villa said. "We know the potential we have and what we can give."

— The Associated Press