Egypt expresses 'deep dissatisfaction' to Netherlands over embassy attack    Global pressure mounts as Gaza fighting intensifies and death toll surges    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    At TICAD, Egypt's education minister signs pacts with Casio, SAPIX    Egypt holds special importance for our investments across diverse sectors: Japanese minister    Cairo, Tokyo sign LOI to expand educational cooperation, support for persons with disabilities    Madbouly invites Japanese firms to establish industrial zone in SCZONE    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Al-Sisi meets Qatar PM, Bahrain security adviser to discuss Gaza crisis, regional stability    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Villa scores late to give Spain win over Paraguay
Published in Daily News Egypt on 04 - 07 - 2010

JOHANNESBURG: David Villa saved Spain again Saturday, scoring with seven minutes left to give his team a 1-0 win over Paraguay and its first ever appearance in the World Cup semifinals.
With both sides having already missed penalty kicks, substitute Pedro Rodriguez hit the post following a pass by Andres Iniesta and the ball fell to Villa in the area. The striker took one touch before his curling shot hit the far post, rebounded onto the other and went in — putting him top of the tournament scoring charts with five goals.
"The post wanted it to go in," Villa said.
Spain will play its semifinal in Durban on Wednesday against Germany, the team it beat in the 2008 European Championship final.
"Quite apart from their results, the Germans are playing brilliantly, so they must be tremendously motivated," Iniesta said. "It will be a game between two rivals who enjoy having the ball and I think it will be a beautiful battle."
But Paraguay's defense mostly kept Spain's vaunted attack at bay, and both teams' best chance to win in normal time came from the spot.
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved a 59th-minute penalty kick by Oscar Cardozo. Paraguay captain Justo Villar matched him two minutes later, but only after referee Carlos Batres made Xabi Alonso retake an initially successful kick because of encroachment by several teammates.
Substitute Cesc Fabregas was brought down by Villar as he pushed the rebound past the goalkeeper, but Batres waved away appeals for another penalty.
Paraguay almost equalized in the 89th as Casillas stopped a shot by Lucas Barrios before punching away Roque Santa Cruz's attempt from the rebound. Villa then had a chance to make it 2-0 at the other end after a breakaway but Villar made the save.
"We played Spain on an equal footing but we were unlucky; there's not a lot else to say," Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino said. "Spain has moved on to the semifinals, but we could have too. That's the feeling I have when I look at the talents and capabilities of each side."
Paraguay, making its first quarterfinal appearance, matched Spain for chances until the European champions improved after Fernando Torres made way for Fabregas in the 53rd.
"It's been a very tough, very uncomfortable match but this is more or less what we predicted," Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said. "We felt very uncomfortable with the ball, more than ever, and we have to praise Paraguay for that.
"With the substitutions, we wanted to refresh the team. We weren't very fine with the ball and I wanted to have more men in the midfield, so we could have more possession."
But Paraguay could have been ahead by then.
Casillas easily saved Jonathan Santana's first-minute shot but could do nothing about Nelson Valdez's 41st-minute, close-range finish.
Valdez swept the ball into the net but his effort was ruled out for an offside, with replays showing that Cardozo had strayed as the crucial pass came forward.
"We exerted a lot of pressure throughout the match," Martino said. "We went backward sometimes but we always had that intention, to harm them as much as possible."
Martino felt the goal had been wrongly disallowed.
"But FIFA will apologize tomorrow and everything will be fine," Martino said sarcastically.
Spain had to wait until the 34th for its trademark one-touch passing to create an opening. Villa, getting into the game after a spell of isolation on the left, surged up the middle and passed wide right to Iniesta, who hit a curling cross that only just eluded Torres and went out the other side.
Until then, Spain's best opening had been an individual effort by Xavi Hernandez. With his back to goal, Xavi flicked the ball into the air, spun 180 degrees and hit a 25-meter (yard) dipping shot that just cleared the bar.
Otherwise, Spain made only two first-half forays of note into Paraguay's area. Villa beat a challenge on left but his cross was easily cut out as Paraguay defended in numbers.
Torres did the same on the right a minute later but immediately lost the ball in the area as his touch continued to betray him.
But the game immediately opened up with Fabregas' arrival.
Paraguay was awarded its penalty when Spain defender Gerard Pique grabbed Cardozo's arm with both hands and pulled the striker back as the pair awaited a cross into the area.
Spain then got its penalty when Antolin Alcaraz was ruled to have knocked down Villa


Clic here to read the story from its source.