Paraguay 0-1 Spain - As It Happened

The last Semi-Final spot is up for grabs as Paraguay take on Spain. Join espnstar as we bring you all the action from Ellis Park LIVE.

Well, well, well plenty of drama already this evening as Germany thrashed Argentina 4-0 in a result which may just cheer up any watching England fans. Now its time to find out who will meet them in the Semi-Finals as underdogs Paraguay take on tournament favourites Spain in Johannesburg. A win for either side will see them reach their first ever Semi-Final.

The main danger to Paraguay has got to be David Villa as the striker, who signed for Barcelona just before the group stages began, has already knocked in 4 goals out of their first 4 games. The 40 million euros Barca shelled out for Villa must seem like an absolute bargin as he has taken his tally of international goals to 42 in just 62 appearances. Astonishing.

Spain will undoubtedly utilize their standard pass-and-move style of play and that could force the Paraguayans onto the back foot. However, the South Americans have the best defensive record in the competition having conceded only one goal, could this be a case of Paraguay parking the bus and hoping for a single breakaway goal? It's worked against Spain once already...

Here are the starting line-ups of Paraguay and Spain.

Paraguay

1-Justo Villar; 2-Dario Veron, 14-Paulo Da Silva, 21-Antolin Alcaraz, 3-Claudio Morel, 8-Edgar Barreto, 11-Jonathan Santana, 15-Victor Caceres, 16-Cristian Riveros, 18-Nelson Valdez, 7-Oscar Cardozo.

Spain

1-Iker Casillas; 15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 11-Joan Capdevila; 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi, 6-Andres Iniesta, 16-Sergio Busquets; 9-Fernando Torres, 7-David Villa.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque names an unchanged line-up for the European champions, with the mis-firing Fernando Torres keeping his place in attack with David Villa. The Liverpool man will be hoping to repay his coach's faith by getting his first South Africa 2010 goal tonight.

Paraguay on the other hand are all change, with a total of six changes from the side that overcame Japan in the last round. Oscar Cardozo and Nelson Valdez are prefered up front to the trio of Santa Cruz, Barrios, and Benitez. This should leave another man in the Paraguayan midfield, which could be a wise move considering the possession Spain are likely to have. 

Paraguay have 3 players, Enrique Vera, Cristian Riveros, and Roque Santa Cruz who are one card away from suspension, while Xabi Alonso is Spain's only worry.

The teams are out on the field at Ellis Park lead by their two goal keepers, Justo Villar of Paraguay and Iker Casillas of Spain. 

0' - KICK OFF

0' - Here we go again. Its Paraguay who start us off. History will be made whoever wins tonight, so who will reach their first ever Semi-Finals?

1' - Early test for Iker Casillas as Paraguay's Jonathan Santana gets a weak shot off towards goal. The Real Madrid keeper gets his body behind it and will be pleased to have a safe early touch.

5' - Five minutes gone and neither side have really taken charge. The Paraguayans are closing down the Spanish nicely but they won't want to be chasing the ball all night. 

10' - Spain aren't all about attack. Gerard Pique performs a fantastic sliding challenge to stop  a Nelson Valdez run and the big defender then plays a neat one-two, before hitting a lovely 40-yard cross-field pass. There's talent all the way through this Spanish squad.

15' - Quarter of an hour in here and still no real goalmouth action. Spain are just about getting on top but its a sloppy game at the moment.

19' - Brilliant play from Spain's diminutive genius Iniesta as he wriggles away from two Paraguayans with a single touch. They eventually bring him down and Spain will have a free-kick 35 yards from goal.

22' - Against the run of play, its Paraguay who get the first real chance of the match. A free-kick is swung into the box which is just to far for defender Antolin Alcaraz to get his head on. Paraguay will be pleased with the match so far but Spain will be wondering where their mojo has gone.

27' - He may not be fully fit but Fernando Torres is always a danger to opposition defenses. He goes of a little run down the right, beating two men before being tackled just inside Paraguay's penalty area.

28' - First real chance for Spain. Xavi flicks up the ball with his back to goal and spins 180 degrees before hitting it on the volley. His effort goes just over Justo Villar's crossbar, but the keeper was well off his line and had it been a few inches lower it would be 1-0 Spain.

33' - Another chance for Paraguay and its Jonathan Santana again who is just a few feet shy of getting his head to a dangerous cross. Definitely not the one-sided match many had predicted, Spain look a little rattled by the pressure of the South Americans.

38' - Sergio Ramos is seeing a lot of the ball at the moment and is managing to get one or two crosses in, but to no effect. Just doesn't look like there are enough Spanish players getting into the box.

40' - Lucky break for the Europeans as a Nelson Valdez goal is chalked off for offside. Looks like he was level to me although strike partner Oscar Cardozo may have got a touch as the ball came over. Tough one for the linesman to call but a real wake up call for Spain.

45' - Just on the stroke of half time, Nelson Valdez turns Puyol inside-out and gets himself in a shooting position on the edge of the Spanish box. The shot goes off towards the corner flag but Paraguay are really taking it to the Euro 2008 champs.

45' - HALF TIME

45' - A dissapointing half for both spanish fans and probably most neutrals, although Paraguayan fans will rightfully happy. The play on both sides has been disjointed at times and there has been no sign of the famed Spanish possession as yet. Paraguay should probably be ahead to be honest, as it doesn't look like there was a touch for Valdez's offside goal. Very hard to call this one, but lets at least hope for some better football in the upcoming second half.

45' - KICK OFF 2ND HALF 

45' - We're underway again, will we see the real Spain  this half, or can Paraguay cause a major upset?

49' - Spain are putting Paraguay under some early pressure, but they are still unable to find a way through the South American defense. Its isn't pretty but Paraguay are certainly frustrating the tournament favourites.

54' - Looks like Cesc Fabregas is about to come on for Spain. The need to make a change too because there are plenty of passes going astray for the Europeans.

55' - Sub - Cesc Fabregas on for Fernando Torres

57' - PENALTY to Paraguay

57' - Clear penalty, Pique is all over Oscar Cardozo as a cross comes in. Great chance for Paraguay.

57'- MISSED - That is why Iker Casillas is the best best goalkeeper in the world. Cardozo goes low to the right and Casillas gets all of his body behind it. Lifeline for Spain.

59' - PENALTY to Spain

59- Unbelieveable! Villa is dragged down in the box by Alcaraz who is luck to escape with only a yellow card. This could be the breakthrough.

59' - Xabi Alonso steps up and Its in! No wait is not! The referee wants it taken again, looks like the a couple of Spanish players jumped the gun and ran into the box too early. Alonso lines it up again and SAVED! Incredible scenes as Justo Villar dives low to his left and blocks the shot, the rebound is hit against the post but Paraguay survive. The game has suddenly come to life in a huge way.

66' - Controversy all round here - Following the rebound of Xavi Alonso's missed penalty Cesc Fabregas looked to be brought down and it could have easily been another penalty. Meanwhile replays show that there was further encroaching during Cardozo spot kick. Maybe that one should have been taken again? Either way, its somehow still 0-0, amazing.

70' - 20 minutes left and Spain are looking much more dangerous, finding much more space on the wing and getting a few more shots at Villar in goal. Nelson Valdez is replaced by Santa Cruz as Paraguay go in search of the elusive winner. 

73' - Xavi takes a short corner and lays it off to Iniesta who goes on a cute little run inside the Paraguay box, but his cut back is put out for another corner. Moments later Xavi has a go himself, but his long range drive is just wide of the right-hand post. Spain are really pressing now, they don't want this to go to extra-time.

77' - Its been a valiant effort by the Paraguayans, but all that running and closing down looks to have taken its toll, surely the Spanish pressure has to force a goal eventually?

80' - Ten minutes left now and still no clue who will go through. Remember, whoever wins this will face Germany, and an extra 30 minutes of football tonight could cause problems against the fresh young Germans. 

82' - GOAL - 1-0 Spain - Villa

82' - A dramatic opener for a dramatic match. Iniesta weaves his way through the centre of the Paraguayan defense before laying it off to Perdo, who is one-on-one with Justo Villar. The Barcelona man strikes it low but it comes of the far post, right to David Villa. He take a touch and fires it toward goal where it hits BOTH posts before settling in the net. Surely thats enough for the Spanish.

88' - Its going down to the wire here and Paraguay nearly had a way back into the game. Lucas Barrios collects the ball on the right of the Spanish box and fires in a low drive which Casillas fumbles right into the path of Roque Santa Cruz. The Paraguayan tries to poke it in but the Spanish keeper recovers well and pulls of a great blocks.

90' - 3 minutes of stoppage time, this is pure tension.

91' - Sergio Ramos is putting it where it hurts as he gets his a knee to the head inside his own penalty area. Looks to be bleeding and he'll have to go off for treatment. Seconds to go here.

94' - FULL TIME PARAGUAY 0-1 SPAIN 

94' - Wow. An amazing second half here at Ellis Park and its David Villa who is Spain's hero yet again. The Europeans rode their luck for most of the match and took their chance well when it came, but you have to feel for Paraguay, they ran their hearts out tonight.

So there it its, Spain are through to their first ever Semi-Finals to face Germany, but it could have so different and Oscar Cardozo knows it. That penalty miss is obviously playing on his mind as he hides his face under his shirt, keeper and Captain attempts to comfort him but he's clearly hurting too. David Villa is completely the opposite, he's practically beaming as he applauds the Spanish fans.

Just about enough time to go through the Semi-Finals.

Uruguay will play The Netherlands in Cape Town on the 6th

and Germany will face Spain in Durban one day later on the 7th.

Well thats all from us at espnstar, hope you enjoyed our LIVE coverage of this, and all the other Quarter-Finals. Don't forget to join us on the 6th of July for the first Semi-Final between Uruguay and The Netherlands. See you then.