SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010: Spanish fans happy after World Cup advance to semi finals

Record ID: 455672

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010: Spanish fans happy after World Cup advance to semi finals
  • Date: 4th July 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 3, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS FANS LEAVING STADIUM AFTER SPAIN - PARAGUAY MATCH VARIOUS SPAIN FANS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN FAN ENRIQUE, SAYING: "Yes I'm happy but Spain didn't play 100%, as it should have had. Spain knows how to play better." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN FAN JOSHUA, SAYING: "Yes I'm very happy. We wrote history for Spanish football. We were waiting for this for a long time." FANS WAVING PARAGUAY FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARAGUAY FAN CARLOS, SAYING: "It's very sad to lose like this, it's disappointing because when you know you could have won, you could have drew. It's really sad." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARAGUAY FAN, SAYING: "It's was nice, it was a good match. Everyone played with the maximum of their resources. It was a great match. I wish good luck to Spain, that it (the team) may continue further. I am sorry that South Africa didn't go further. South Africa is really nice, and a great country to get to know. Thanks for everything" VARIOUS FANS
  • Embargoed: 19th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA1TUBWVD5MXKBBRV6D7MF8ZPGI
  • Story Text: Spain win tense quarter-final 1-0 against Paraguay to the delight and sadness of both sets of fans in Johannesburg.
    Spanish fans in Johannesburg celebrated after striker David Villa fired their team into the World Cup semi-finals with a late goal to sink Paraguay 1-0 after both sides had missed penalties in a dramatic encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday (July 3).
    Tournament top scorer Villa pounced with seven minutes left to net his fifth goal at these finals, after his right-foot shot remarkably went in off both posts, to set up a last four clash with Germany who had earlier thrashed Argentina 4-0.
    Earlier Spain captain Iker Casillas, who saved a penalty from Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo.
    The victory takes European champions Spain into the last four at the World Cup for the first time since 1950.
    "Yes I'm very happy. We wrote history for Spanish football. We were waiting for this for a long time," said one Spanish fan leaving Ellis Park.
    Until Villa's goal, the hard-working South Americans had successfully nullified Spain's normally dominant midfield and created the clearer chances in a closely-fought first half.
    The quarter-final burst into life shortly before the hour when referee Carlos Batres ruled that Spain defender Gerard Pique had hauled down Cardozo in the penalty area.
    The striker sent his spot kick low to the left of Casillas but the goalkeeper went the right way and saved comfortably.
    "It's very sad to lose like this, it's disappointing because when you know you could have won, you could have drew. It's really sad," one Paraguay fan said.
    There was more drama at the other end of the pitch minutes later when Spain were awarded a penalty after Villa went down under a challenge from central defender Antolin Alcaraz.
    Xabi Alonso netted high to Justo Villar's right, sparking celebrations on the Spain bench but the referee made him retake it after players from both sides encroached into the area.
    Alonso went low to Villar's left with his second attempt and after his shot was saved substitute Cesc Fabregas, on for the ineffective Spain striker Fernando Torres, appeared to be hacked down by the keeper but the referee awarded only a corner.
    As Spain pressed for a winner, midfielder Xavi, who went close with a fizzing volley in the first half, drove narrowly wide and Andres Iniesta drew another fine save from Villar.
    Villa then popped up to grab the decisive goal in the 83rd minute from a rebound after substitute Pedro had hit the upright following a brilliant run by midfielder Iniesta.
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