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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Second Round : Spain 1-0 Portugal

European champions Spain beat Portugal 1-0 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup thanks to David Villa's lone goal.

Spain displayed a slick brand of passing football, albeit at a measured pace, and during the first half Spain really did not make their possession count.

Portugal had limited use of the ball, but in the first half especially the Portuguese created some chances and might have stolen a half-time lead.

After the break however, Spain tightened their stranglehold on the game and eventually broke through via David Villa who was put through one-on-one - and after hitting his first shot at the keeper latched onto the rebound and dinked it over the sprawling keeper and into the net - via the underside of the crossbar.

The Spanish relief was obvious - and there was a mass pile-up of celebrating Spanish players over by the corner flag.

Portugal had Ricardo Costa sent off for an off-the-ball clash with Joan Capdevila before the end but by then their fate already looked sealed.

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