Match Review & Highlights: Paraguay 0-1 Spain (feat. Bizarre Double Penalty Miss)

July 3rd, 2010 | by: Daryl |

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Spain vs Paraguay was nice and controlled for most of the game, with Spain passing and Paraguay defending, and me expecting penalty kicks. But then it came to life between the 58th and 60th minutes, when both teams had a penalty saved by the opposition keeper, and everyone woke up.

First Gerard Pique gave Paraguay a penalty by trying to pull Oscar Cardozo’s arm off in the 58th minute:

But a clearly nervous Cardozo took the spot kick himself, and saw it saved by Iker Casillas.

From there Spain went up to the other end of the field where Antolin Alcaraz made a clumsy tackle on David Villa to give Spain a chance from the spot:

Alonso scored with his first effort, but the ref demanded a retake for Spanish players encroaching into the box before the kick had been taken, and Alonso second effort was saved.

After a somewhat dull first half, this few short minutes of madness was enough to lift the game to a level of genuine excitement, which Spain went on to win 1-0 with the David Villa goal:

That’s Villa’s fifth of the tournament, and enough to put Spain through to the find four of the World Cup for the first time since 1950, where their opponents will be Germany.

- Reactions at Spain blog and Paraguay blog

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http://sevilla.theoffside.com/ SevillaOffside_Joshua

Xabi Alonso went to the exact same spot on both penalty kick attempts. I would say it is more his poor choice of a second kick that caused it to be blocked than great goalkeeping.
Bense235

Paraguay could have decided the game later on with their penalty and Santa Cruz had the chance to equalize. Paraguay has got no one else to blame but themselves. Spain was already playing on the lowest niveau they possibly could.
http://twitter.com/valjanek Val Jane K

Ohhh wow. Spain against Germany…. I still bet that Germany will win. This match, Spain won by just pure luck. Anyone see that goal that they FINALLY shot in the end? that was totally pure luck if that ball hadn't bounced off the poles it wouldve never got in.
netsez

Alonso knew that the keeper would pick the opposite side thinking Alonso would switch, so Alonso tried to trick the keeper into missing by going on the SAME side, but the keeper knew the double switch was on so he dove to the same side and saved the penalty.

Of course this is not serious.
LaurieInSeattle

“Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he is given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known that I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me…”
http://malawi.worldcupblog.org sscouser

Hailed as the hero of Spain's triumph over Paraguay (along with goalscorer David Villa) with at least two crucial saves, including stopping a penalty, Spanish goalkeeper and captian Iker Casillas has deflected the credit, instead dedicating his save to second-string keeper Pepe Reina.

“Reina told me where he [Cardozo] would shoot. He is phenomenal”, said the Real Madrid 'keeper of his Liverpool counterpart. Shortly after saving the spot-kick, Saint Iker could be seen pointing to the sideline, presumably at Reina, in appreciation of the tip-off.

Seriously?
http://twitter.com/agiamba Aaron Giambattista

That penalty sequence is baffling. Poor refereeing again. Yes, there was encroachment of the Xabi penalty (when isn't there) but there also was plenty on Cardoza's penalty. How was the Fabregas incident not a penalty?
netsez

I look at it this way, both teams had a goal removed, that makes it even.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

David Villa must have spent the last few years building up an immunity to missing.
http://www.mcalcio.com Marco P.

Daryl, you forgot to mention that Cardozo's penalty had about SIX Spanish players encroaching the box the moment the kick was taken. Unreal.
valcabgor

and what about haedo valdez' goal five minutes before the break which was definitely not from an offside position?? TERRIBLE refereeing!!!
ESPN_SMRITI

Alonso…definitely had da goal…poor refereeing…Alonso tried to trick the goalkeeper the second time…but goalkeeper of the other team was smart enough to figure out Alonso's trick
But….fantastic save made by cassillias…..that's what expected from the spanish captain……go spain
ESPN_SMRITI

YA DEFINITELY NOT FROM AN OFFISIDE POSITION…TERRIBLE REFEREEING THERE AS WELL….BOTH DA TEAMS LOST ONE GOAL EACH….SO RESULT CAN BE CONCLUDED FAIR….BUT REFEREEING IN 2010 WORLD CUP HAS BEEN OF WORST QUALITY…NO DOUBT