Paraguay v Spain, 03 July 2010

Score1-0 to Spain
RefereeCarlos Batres
CompetitionFIFA World Cup Quarter-final
VenueEllis Park, Johannesburg
Attendance55,359
Kick-Off: 20:30 Local (19:30 BST) Man of the Match: Andrés Iniesta (Spain) Assistant referees: Leonel Leal (Costa Rica) Carlos Pastrana (Honduras) Fourth official: Benito Archundia (Mexico) Fifth official: Héctor Vergara (Canada) With this win it was the first time that Spain had progressed to the semi-final of a World Cup since 1950; while for Paraguay, the quarter-final appearance was also the country's best ever performance. The first half of the match finished goalless, although both sides had chances to score and Paraguay's Nelson Valdez had a goal ruled out as offside. The match suddenly became eventful in the second half due to a string of penalty kicks. First, Óscar Cardozo was pulled down by Gerard Piqué in Spain's penalty area and Paraguay was awarded a penalty. Cardozo took the penalty himself but it was saved by Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Spain soon after launched an attack at the other end of the field, in which David Villa was ruled by the referee to have been brought down by Antolín Alcaraz. Xabi Alonso stepped up to take the penalty kick and seemed to have scored, only for the referee to order it be retaken because of encroachment by a Spanish player into the penalty area before the kick was taken. Xabi Alonso's retake was saved by Paraguayan goalkeeper Justo Villar. As a result, the score remained 0–0 after the three penalty kicks. However, Spain ultimately managed to take the lead in the 82nd minute: David Villa collected a rebounded shot off the post from Pedro, to score himself off the post. The goal turned out to be the winner for Spain. After the match, Spain's coach Vicente del Bosque conceded that his side were not playing at their best and were starved of possession. He also noted his view that Spain's next opponents Germany were the best team at the World Cup. Paraguay's coach Gerardo Martino stated he would be leaving his position at the end of his contract.

0  Paraguay

Manager: Gerardo Martino

1  Spain

Manager: Vicente Del Bosque

Goals:

Goals:

David Villa 83 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Justo Villar (captain)
Defender Paulo da Silva
Defender Claudio Morel
Defender Darío Verón
Defender/Midfielder Cristian Riveros
Midfielder Edgar Barreto
Midfielder Víctor Cáceres
Midfielder Jonathan Santana
Forward Oscar Cardozo
Forward Nelson Valdéz

Starting lineup:

Iker Casillas Goalkeeper (captain)
Capdevila Defender
Gerard Piqué Defender
Puyol Defender
Sergio Ramos Defender
Iniesta Midfielder
Sergio Busquets Midfielder
Xabi Alonso Midfielder
Xavi Midfielder
David Villa Forward

Substitutions:

Enrique Vera for Edgar Barreto 64
Roque Santa Cruz for Nelson Valdéz 71
Lucas Barrios for Víctor Cáceres 84

Substitutions:

Cesc Fàbregas for Fernando Torres 56
Pedro for Xabi Alonso 75
Marchena for Puyol 84

Cards:

Antolín Alcáraz 59 Y
Víctor Cáceres 59 Y
Claudio Morel 71 Y
Jonathan Santana 88 Y

Cards:

Gerard Piqué 57 Y
Sergio Busquets 63 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Diego Barreto
Goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla
Defender Julio Caceres
Defender Denis Caniza
Defender/Midfielder Carlos Bonet
Midfielder Nestor Ortigoza
Midfielder Aureliano Torres
Midfielder Enrique Vera
Midfielder/Forward Edgar Benítez
Forward Lucas Barrios
Forward Rodolfo Gamarra

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina
Goalkeeper Victor Valdés
Defender Álvaro Arbeloa
Defender Marchena
Midfielder Cesc Fàbregas
Midfielder David Silva
Midfielder Javi Martinez
Midfielder Jesús Navas
Midfielder Juan Mata
Midfielder Pedro
Midfielder Raúl Albiol

0  Paraguay

Manager: Gerardo Martino

Goals:

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Justo Villar (captain)
Defender Paulo da Silva
Defender Claudio Morel
Defender Darío Verón
Defender/Midfielder Cristian Riveros
Midfielder Edgar Barreto
Midfielder Víctor Cáceres
Midfielder Jonathan Santana
Forward Oscar Cardozo
Forward Nelson Valdéz

Substitutions:

Enrique Vera for Edgar Barreto 64
Roque Santa Cruz for Nelson Valdéz 71
Lucas Barrios for Víctor Cáceres 84

Cards:

Antolín Alcáraz 59 Y
Víctor Cáceres 59 Y
Claudio Morel 71 Y
Jonathan Santana 88 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Diego Barreto
Goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla
Defender Julio Caceres
Defender Denis Caniza
Defender/Midfielder Carlos Bonet
Midfielder Nestor Ortigoza
Midfielder Aureliano Torres
Midfielder Enrique Vera
Midfielder/Forward Edgar Benítez
Forward Lucas Barrios
Forward Rodolfo Gamarra

1  Spain

Manager: Vicente Del Bosque

Goals:

David Villa 83 G

Starting lineup:

Iker Casillas Goalkeeper (captain)
Capdevila Defender
Gerard Piqué Defender
Puyol Defender
Sergio Ramos Defender
Iniesta Midfielder
Sergio Busquets Midfielder
Xabi Alonso Midfielder
Xavi Midfielder
David Villa Forward

Substitutions:

Cesc Fàbregas for Fernando Torres 56
Pedro for Xabi Alonso 75
Marchena for Puyol 84

Cards:

Gerard Piqué 57 Y
Sergio Busquets 63 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina
Goalkeeper Victor Valdés
Defender Álvaro Arbeloa
Defender Marchena
Midfielder Cesc Fàbregas
Midfielder David Silva
Midfielder Javi Martinez
Midfielder Jesús Navas
Midfielder Juan Mata
Midfielder Pedro
Midfielder Raúl Albiol