JOHANNESBURG -- Spain found just enough of the beautiful game and a touch of good luck to advance to the World Cup semifinals, beating Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday night. David Villa took the tournament scoring lead with his fifth goal, which banked in off both posts in the 83th minute. The goal finished off a brilliant, three-way passing combination that typifies the way the European champions like to play. It sent Spain into the World Cup's final four for the first time in 60 years. Spain face Germany on Wednesday in Durban a reprise of their 1-0 victory in the Euro 2008 final. One night after penalty kicks decided Uruguay's shootout win over Ghana, they were critical in Spain's victory. A somewhat subdued match suddenly became chaotic in a two-minute span of the second half. Gerard Pique pulled down Paraguay's Oscar Cardozo in the penalty area on a corner kick, earning a yellow card and giving Cardozo a penalty kick. With the vuvuzelas reaching a crescendo, the striker who ended his team's shootout win over Japan was denied brilliantly this time by Iker Casillas, who dived left to block Cardozo's low kick. Seconds later, Villa broke free behind the defense and was hauled down by Antolin Alcoraz, who drew a yellow card. Xabi Alonso went to the penalty spot and sent a wicked drive into the net. Again, the stadium rocked, but referee Carlos Batres of Guatemala waved off the goal, saying a Spain player entered the area too soon. Given a second chance, keeper Justo Villar guessed correctly, diving left to stop the penalty kick. He also knocked the rebound away from Cesc Fabregas before defender Paulo Da Silva made a leg save at the goal line on another shot by Sergio Ramos. After that wild sequence, it seemed anything was possible. And for Spain, anything is possible with Villa on the field. Not only is he the Spaniards' best finisher, but he's a sparkplug with his darting runs and imaginative moves. His goal came off the kind of attack that has carried Spain toward the top of the soccer world. Andres Iniesta surged through the Paraguay defense and passed to the right to Pedro, whose right-footed kick slammed off the goalpost. The rebound came to Silva, and his shot hit the far post, then amazingly caromed across the net, off the left post and in. Fans for both teams wore red and blended into the colour scheme of the seats in Ellis Park Stadium. Even if you couldn't see them so well, you sure could hear their vuvuzelas blaring, especially when Silva scored. But Paraguay, a nation that never has been a factor at the World Cup and hasn't won a major title since Copa America in 1979, wasn't about to fold. The final six minutes of regulation and three minutes of extra time featured free-flowing soccer at both ends, and Casillas once again had to rescue the Spaniards. Lucas Barrios broke free on right wing and Casillas charged out of his net to stop his hard drive. The rebound went to Roque Santa Cruz, and Casillas scrambled back to make a spectacular stop to preserve victory. In the end, as the Spanish players rushed to mob Casillas, a distraught Cardozo walked away from teammates and team officials, holding his jersey over his face, wiping away tears.
