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WORLD CUP RECORDS
Spain go through; South Africa head home
Daejeon, June 12
By Payal Dhar
Two goals from Raul and one from Mendieta helped Spain beat South Africa 3-2 in an exciting Group B encounter. The win takes Spain to a pre-quarterfinal clash against Ireland, while South Africa are left to arrange for tickets back home.
South Africa came back from behind to equalize twice, but Spain emerged winners finally. A double-strike by Raul saw them finish on top of Group B. With South Africa needing at least a draw to go through to their next round, their fate depended on the other match of the Paraguay versus Slovenia game. Paraguay took it 3-1, sealing their ticket to the next round, with no place left for the South Africans.
It was an entertaining game, with Spain playing in their usual spirited style and South Africa determined to match them. A goal down within five minutes, they came back at the end of the half hour, only to have Spain score again on half time. Eight minutes after half-time saw the Africans back in the hunt, but Spain went ahead again soon.
Spain played in their traditional red and black, and South Africa in yellow and green. Mendieta got the go ahead to start for Spain. There were no surprises in the South African eleven.
It was a goalkeeping error in the fourth minute that saw Spain go ahead. The 'keeper failed to take the ball cleanly just inside the penalty area. Raul managed to prise it out of his hands and put it easily in the net.
South Africa, however, rallied magnificently, and within the first 10 minutes Casillas had to punch out a long-range South African attempt to equalize. Then in the 21st minute a cracking shot from just outside the box went just wide of target.
The equalizer came at the end of the first half hour, with McCarthy sneaking the ball past Casillas. However, on the stroke of half-time, a brilliant free-kick from Mendieta crept past the wall and found the left corner of the net.
Eight minutes past half-time, South Africa equalized. Skipper Lucas Radebe's header crept past Casillas, and the South African's were back in the hunt.
Barely three minutes later, Spain went ahead for the third time in the match, with Joaquin's cross finding the goal via Raul's head.
Spain had a chance to seal it, but some inspired work from the South African 'keeper kept the ball out. Chances did come by for South Africa as well, but none were converted. Benny Mc Carthy's crashing attempt in the 66th minute went wide of goal. Then in the 87th Casillas spilled the ball but Mc Carthy was too slow to cash in on it.
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