SPAIN RETURN IN STYLE WITH 2-0 WIN OVER HONDURAS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 22 Jun 2010
Spain returned to contention in the 2020 FIFA World Cup after a setback in their opening match and showed the style of attacking football the team is capable of with a star-studded frontline armada and a crisp-passing midfield to beat Honduras 2-0-with flamboyant David Villa gaining ?Man of the Match? honors after scoring both goals by Spain.
The 2-0 score was no indication of the domination of Spain who, as European champions were among the early favorites alongside perennial contenders Brazil and Argentina. Earlier, after a first half that netted them a single goal, Portugal turned on the heat to rip North Korea and send them packing back home with a six-goal avalanche in the second half for an eventual 7-0 thrashing.
The Portugal side showed flair and played some fancy football to thrash the North Koreans at Green Point Stadium and almost surely earned a place in the round of 16.
In a fairly even and closely fought first 45 minutes it was only Raul Meireles? goal that gave Portugal the lead as they went to the dugout. But when they emerged for the second half it was a totally different team that ripped the North Korean defense to shreds scoring three goals inside eight minutes before the hour from Simao, Hugo Almeida and Tiago. With the clock ticking down, Liedson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiago again compounded their opponents' woes to produce Portugal's biggest FIFA World Cup? victory and the widest winning margin so far in South Africa.
The win by Spain put them alongside Switzerland with a win apiece, though still three points off Group H pacesetters Chile who the Spaniards will face in their elimination round match on Friday. Honduras, after a plucky display need to win their final match against Switzerland but their chances of qualifying rests in the hands of Chile who need to beat Spain to give Honduras any chance of moving into the round of 16.
Chile has played surprisingly well so far and an upset against Spain is not totally out of the question.
The Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque had to make some changes following an injury to key playmaker Andres Iniesta as indicated in the FIFA match report which said del Bosque had to reshuffle his pack with Fernando Torres brought into the line-up to join Villa in attack. Sevilla's right-sided flanker Jesus Navas was also given a place in the starting XI with David Silva omitted. It was no surprise to see Spain, undoubtedly stung by their opening loss to Switzerland, start in an attacking mode. Villa rattled the crossbar after just six minutes with an effort from 25 metres, while Sergio Ramos was unable to get downward force on a free header at the back post just minutes later.
Spain caused constant problems on both flanks with Villa operating on the left and Navas on the right. Villa appeared to be in supremely confident mood and it was no surprise to see Barcelona's recent signing open the scoring with what is set to be one of the individual goals of the tournament. Cutting in from the left, Villa dissected a path through two defenders when there appeared to be none, before rounding a third attempt at a tackle and unleashing a shot into the roof of the net.
On the half-hour mark, Torres had two good openings within the space of 60 seconds as Spain upped the ante further still. The Liverpool man, perhaps still showing signs of rustiness after his return from injury last month, guided a header into the ground and over the crossbar, before then skying his shot after a dribble into the penalty area. Honduras rarely threatened in the opening period, winning their first corner only in the final minute of the half. Honduran speed-merchant David Suazo received scant service up front as La Roja dominated midfield possession.
The second half started disastrously for the Hondurans with Villa doubling the advantage just six minutes after the restart, his shot from 20 metres taking a wicked deflection off the knee of Osman Chavez and looping over the outstretched hand of stranded goalkeeper Noel Valladares. Just past the hour, Emilio Izaguirre's foul on Navas in the penalty area gave Villa a golden opportunity to record a hat-trick but he pushed his spot-kick wide and in the process became the first Spain player to miss a penalty at the FIFA World Cup.
Nevertheless, Spain appeared certain to kill off the game with a third goal, only to be guilty at times of overplaying the passing movement when presented with a shooting opportunity. Substitute Cesc Fabregas appeared certain to score with his first involvement but, after springing the offside trap and rounding Valladares, the Arsenal skipper saw his shot impressively cleared off the line by a retreating Chavez. Honduras found some joy in attack in the final stages with Suazo firing wide and half-time substitute Georgie Welcome guiding a header the wrong side of the post. Yet Spain were still the team pushing hard until the final whistle with only some determined defending and their own profligacy ensuring the scoreline remained unchanged.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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