Spain beats Paraguay 1-0 to get to semifinals

World Cup 2010: Spain beat Paraguay last night, but it wasn’t as easy as everybody thought.

Paraguay decided not to go down easily and the first half was very balanced.

Paraguay had the bigger opportunities; they kept Spain at a good distance and Spain only got one real attempt at the Paraguayan goal. Xavi struck a strong shot, but the ball went over. Paraguay even had a disallowed goal for an offside (a very close call, though, that said a lot of their intentions).

Spain became more incisive in the second half, but Paraguay was the one to get a penalty.

A penalty that Cardozo calmly missed (or Casillas parried, depending on how you want to put it). Just a minute later, Spain got a penalty, all across the field, in a game that was becoming crazier and crazier. Xabi Alonso scored, but the referee wouldn’t have it, because a Spanish player had entered the neutral zone.

The penalty was repeated, but this time Villar parried and Paraguay’s hopes were back.

Not for long, though. David Villa scored in the 83rd minute and, even if Paraguay had another huge opportunity, this dramatic clash was over.

Spain goes through to the semifinals, to meet Germany.