Spain defeated Portugal with a goal by David Villa in 63′, completing the list of the eight teams in the World Cup 2010 quarter finals. This is the 6th time in history for Spain to be in the World Cup’s Top 8, and since Portugal is now out (following France and Italy) Germany is the only team left from the 2006 semi-finals four.
Fernando Torres had the first good opportunity in the game, with a nice diagonal shot that was blocked by Eduardo. Portugal’s goalkeeper stopped with the same a way two more shots from David Villa in 3′ and 7′, both from the left side of the penalty area. Torres missed his second chance in 12′ sending the ball over the goal post and after nice corner shot from Xavi. The first big chance for Portugal came in 21′ after a fantastic play from Fábio Coentrão and a powerful shot by Tiago that Iker Casillas stopped on the line with a double effort. Cristiano Ronaldo threatened Casillas seven minutes later, with the goalkeeper again unable to secure the ball right away that was immediately sent off by the defenders. Portugal had two more chances in the first 45 minutes, with close headers by Hugo Almeida in 39′ and Tiago Mendes in 42′.
During the second half Fernando Llorente came in as a substitute for Fernando Torres, and the match was starting to turn in Spain’s favour. Llorente lost a great chance in 59′ with a close header that was somehow blocked by Eduardo. Spain almost scored a goal in 61′ with the usual suspect David Villa, that just two minutes later finally found the target to make it 1-0 for Spain: Andrés Iniesta passed the ball to Xavi that immediately pushed it to Villa that was coming from behind with only the goalkeeper left to beat. Eduardo initially stopped the first shot, but the ball came back to Villa that would not miss twice. The Portuguese goalkeeper successfully blocked another sure goal a few minutes later, this time against Sergio Ramos that dribbled through everyone before firing a shot with his left foot.
Portugal was struggling to come back in the game, and nothing really changed until the final whistle except a couple of chances from Spain. Portugal was also playing with 10 men since 89′, after Ricardo Costa was sent off for hitting Joan Capdevila with his elbow.
