Chile 1-2 Spain: David Villa & Andres Iniesta Send La Furia Roja To The Top Of Group H

Posted Saturday, June 26, 2010 by Goal.com

Spain netted twice in the first half through David Villa and Andres Iniesta against ten men Chile to secure passage to the last-16.

Vicente del Bosque’s side needed a victory to guarantee passage to the last-16 while Chile only needed a draw to go through as group winners. But both sides started with a typically attacking formation and it was the Europeans who had the first look at goal after just three minutes when Xavi’s freekick found Fernando Torres, who stayed onside but couldn’t keep his effort down.

Just a minute later, a long ball from Joan Capdevila bounced over Gonzalo Jara and allowed Torres to sneak in behind but El Nino’s shot blazed over after taking a deflection.

La Furia continued to dominate the early exchanges as they camped out inside the Chilean half but the South Americans sprang their first attack on nine minutes when Jean Beausejour’s pull-back found Mark Gonzales but he ballooned his shot high and wide after losing his footing.

Marco Estrada then tested Iker Casillas with a stinging shot from 20 yards out, before Alexis Sanchez attempted an audacious chip from the right channel which Casillas had to flap away with uncertainty. Marcelo Bielsa’s men were now in control of proceedings as Spain were forced into making sloppy passing errors.

Chances were few and far between despite the vibrant start as both teams battled for possession in midfield. But a moment of recklessness from Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo handed Spain the lead on 24 minutes. The shot-stopper came a long way out to intercept Xabi Alonso’s long ball from the back, but his poor sliding clearance sailed straight to David Villa, who dinked a sensational chip into the back of the net from 30 yards out.

Chile came charging forward immediately to look for a quick reply but it was the European champions who had the next big chance when Gerard Pique’s header from a Xavi’s corner looped just over the bar. La Roja then launched a rapi-fire counter-attack as Beausejour burst clean through on goal but his shot was blocked by a back-pedalling Pique.

As the Chileans continued to push forward, they left gaps at the back and Spain duly pounced when they made it 2-0 on 36 minutes. Iniesta spread the ball out to the left for Villa, who pulled it back to Iniesta and the Barcelona midfielder coolly sidefooted his shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner. In the build-up to the goal, Estrada tripped Torres on the edge of the box and he was subsequently sent off by the referee.

With a comfortable lead and an extra-man advantage, the Spaniards were able to impose themselves and control the rest of the half comfortably, although Xabi Alonso had to limp off injured.

Chile 1-2 Spain: David Villa & Andres Iniesta Send La Furia Roja To The Top Of Group H

Bielsa made two changes at the break, sending in forward Esteban Paredes and midfielder Rodrigo Millar, while Xabi Alonso returned to the pitch after shrugging off his ankle blow.

And the change immediately paid off for Chile as they pulled a goal back two minutes into the restart. Millar was unchallenged on the edge of the box as he checked onto his right foot and curled in a shot which took a wicked deflection off Pique to wrong-foot Casillas.

Spain looked rattled as the South Americans showed more urgency by pressing forward. Del Bosque decided to withdraw an anonymous and unfit Torres for Cesc Fabregas and La Furia immediately restore control in midfield.

Fabregas twice slotted in a sumptuous pass to Villa, but ‘El Guaje’ just couldn’t control to get a shot in. Xavi then dinked a superb through ball to Villa, but Waldo Ponce just got ahead of the Spain striker to smother the danger.

More careless defending by La Roja constantly allowed the Spanish Armada room to exploit but despite some delicious passing build-up, the likes of Villa, Sergio Ramos, Iniesta and Xavi failed to trouble Bravo in goal.

Chile’s fiery spirit started to wane as Spain were allowed to coast to the finish line with their usual possession football. Two offside calls against the South Americans were the only occasions the fans at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium were up on their feet as neither side over-committed having ensured qualification to the second round with this result. Fabregas had the last chance of the game after being teed up by Sergio Ramos’ cut-back but the Arsenal skipper miscued right infront of goal.

The victory is enough for Spain to top Group H and set up a tantalising showdown with Portugal in the last-16. Chile, despite the loss, will also advance to the knockout round by finishing second after Switzerland could only draw 0-0 with Honduras in the other game, but Bielsa’s side will have to face-off against continental neighbours, Brazil.