World Cup Daily Recap: Villa lifts Spain, Paraguay tops Japan in penalty kicks
By AVI CREDITOR
Spain appears to have steadied its World Cup ship.
After breaking down as well as land off Portugal upon Tuesday, 1-0, La Furia Roja clinched a eighth as well as last mark in a quarterfinals as well as put to bed any worries about a unsuccessful contest run.
Spain's fool around started with an out-of-sync, 1-0 loss to Switzerland. Vicente del Bosque's group have given reverted back into their fluid, possession-dominating, defensively sound style as well as haven't trailed given a opening loss.
Spain controlled a bulk of a receive opposite perhaps a tournament's premiere defensive unit, as Portugal hadn't authorised a idea by group fool around opposite opponents such as Brazil as well as a Ivory Coast. The Portuguese stood high until Xavi as well as Andres Iniesta orchestrated a flitting method at a tip of a box that led to David Villa's 63rd-minute, game-winning goal.
Villa's initial shot from a left-side point of view was saved by Eduardo, though a Portugal keeper yielded a rebound that Villa chipped underneath a crossbar to mangle a scoreless deadlock.
Portugal never in jeopardy Spain goalie Iker Casillas after that, as star Cristiano Ronaldo found small success via a match. His many notable impulse came in a 28th minute, when he bloody a shot off Casillas' chest upon a 40-yard giveaway kick. Ronaldo, underneath much inspection for his failure to broach upon a general stage, scored a single idea in a World Cup, Portugal's sixth total in its 7-0 subjection of North Korea.
Here have been highlights of Villa's goal:
PARAGUAY OUTLASTS JAPAN IN PENALTIES
After 120 scoreless minutes, Paraguay as well as Japan became a initial teams in a 2010 World ! Cup to h ave a diversion decided by penalty kicks. The South Americans done all 5 of their attempts, though Japan defender Yuichi Komano bloody his off a crossbar to comment for a difference, as Paraguay took a shootout, 5-3.
Edgar Barreto, Lucas Barrios, Cristian Riveros, Nelson Valdez as well as Oscar Cardozo any were successful from a mark for Paraguay.
Yasuhito Endo as well as Makoto Hasebe any done their penalty kicks, though Komano, who had never scored for Japan upon a general level, gave a Guaranies a mangle they needed.
Keisuke Honda kept Japan alive with his cold finish, though Cardozo took a delayed run-up as well as fired into a empty lower left dilemma for a clincher.
Regulation as well as additional time were flattering fruitless, with neither team seriously threatening a hostile goalkeeper. Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios uneasy Japanese keeper Eiji Kawashima upon a low shot in a initial half as well as a header in a initial duration of additional time for dual of a South Americans' many appropriate chances.
Honda was hold in check for a many part, though his 40th-minute strike from 20 yards was only left of a post.
Here have been highlights from a shootout:
Spain as well as Paraguay will encounter in a single of a 4 quarterfinal matchups. Brazil-Netherlands, Argentina-Germany, Uruguay-Ghana have been a others.
------------------
What did we consider of a day's matches? Do we consider Paraguay can dissapoint Spain? Amazed that 4 out of a last 8 teams have been from South America? What did we consider of Ronaldo's World Cup?
Share your thoughts below.
English & European Football Clubs & Leagues News | Video | Commentary
Comments