If you are not a member yet, you can sign up here

News Archive

World Cup, round of sixteen

Spain 1 - Portugal 0

Spain are through to the quarter finals after a 1-0 victory over Portugal, and they will now meet Paraguay in Johannesburg next Saturday. Del Bosque's side got off to a good start, with Fernando Torres and David Villa both testing Eduardo in the first five minutes. But for the rest of the first half Portugal had the edge, Casillas having some problems dealing with shots by Tiago and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ten minutes after the restart though Del Bosque replaced Torres with Llorente, and the Athletic Bilbao striker almost opened his account with his first touch, Eduardo doing well to keep out his header from a Sergio Ramos cross. And three minutes later Spain went in front, Villa beating the keeper at the second attempt after picking up a back-heel pass from Xavi. Ramos and Llorente could have increased the lead after that, but Portugal never looked likely to score, and they ended with ten men after Ricardo Costa was sent off for an elbow on Capdevila. Spain move on to the last eight, with Paraguay in the way of a possible semi-final meeting with Argentina or Germany. (29.06.10)