Chile vs Spain – Match Review
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Spain has advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a resounding 2-1 victory over Chile at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
The match started in surprisingly cagey fashion as early efforts exchanged between Spain’s Fernando Torres and Chile’s Marco Gonzalez were the most either side could offer in the first ten minutes.
Yet, following an 11th minute on-target attempt by Marco Estrada, Spanish goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, found himself under a little more pressure two minutes later as Alexis Sanchez’s goal-bound lob needed parrying away for a corner.
With Spain beginning to take a stranglehold on the match through controlled possession, La Furia Roja eventually broke the deadlock in the 24th minute via an outrageous strike from well outside the area by David Villa.
Xabi Alonso provided a long ball down the left flank in the search for Torres; but as Chilean goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo, sprinted out of his box to clear the danger, his sliding challenge only ricocheted back to David Villa, who became Spain’s most prolific goal scorer finding the back of the net from 30 metres out in close proximity to the left touchline.
Andrés Iniesta then extended the lead for Spain 13 minutes later under contentious circumstances, as Estrada received a second yellow card for what can only be described as a nothing challenge after the Chilean innocuously clipped the back of the Torres’ heels.
For the goal however, Iniesta won back possession excellently before releasing Villa down the left channel after a one-two with Torres.
The latest Barcelona signing held up play before pushing the ball back into the corridor for Iniesta to skilfully sidefoot home at the far post to make it 2-0.
The ensuing drama saw Estrada receive his marching orders by Mexican referee, Marco Rodriguez, who is no stranger to controversy having already sent off Tim Cahill earlier in the tournament in Australia’s defeat to Germany.
Chile was shell-shocked and subsequently made two changes at half-time; and it was one of its substitutions in the form of Rodrigo Millar who found himself on the score sheet less than two minutes from the restart.
After Millar easily sidestepped Carles Puyol, the Chilean’s pot-shot from the edge of the area cannoned wickedly off the knee of Gerard Piqué before looping the unfortunate Casillas, who simply had no chance of making the save.
Spain continued to push for a third, but Chile’s defence remained watertight soaking up waves of pressure from a constant Spanish onslaught – a tame Villa effort was the most the Spanish could muster for the second half.
The last 20 minutes of the match was largely an anti-climatic affair as each side seemed content to settle for a 2-1 victory to Spain in the knowledge that they would both progress to the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup.
In fact, Spain’s triumph allowed the Europeans to deprive Chile of top spot in Group H as the Euro 2008 champions’ World Cup campaign continues to gain momentum.
Meanwhile, despite the narrow defeat, Chile advanced to the knockout phase of the competition finishing second in Group H after Switzerland could only manage a draw against Central American minnow, Honduras.
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