Spain pain for host nation
A Xabi Alonso free kick secured Spain third place in the FIFA Confederations cup, robbing host nation South Africa in the second period of extra time.
- The previously jubilant South African crowd were left dissapointed at the final whistle
The first half of this third place playoff started in a monotonous fashion, though both sides had chances to go in at halftime with a lead. It took David Villa just four minutes to test South African ‘keeper Khune- the Valancia man curled a shot towards goal but was denied by a good save.
Spain also threatend in the second half and hit the net within a few minutes; alas, Villa’s stinging shot was poked home buy Segio Busquets, who was adjudged to have been in an offside position.
Khune made a few more good saves before the game eventually sparked to live with a South African goal. Striker Mphela finished well from a Tshabalala ball, leaving Iker Casillas stranded. The vuvuzela waving crowd were sent into raptures, and with just over 15 minutes left on the clock, it looked like the host’s had stolen a famous victory.
- Mphela fires home his first
South Africa held on until the 87th minute, when there defence finally broke. Spanish substitute Daniel Guiza struck from the edge of the area, and his accurate shot beat Khune and nestled in the corner of the goal. As the forward ran to celebrate the host’s dusted themselves off, content with taking the game to extra time. But Guiza was set to break their hearts once again.
Less than two minutes after his equaliser, Guiza struck once more. From the right hand side of the area, the striker chipped the ball over the keeper, into the top corner of the net. For the first time in the tournament, the home fans are left silent, the vuvuzela’s muted. Debate will most likely rage as fans and pundits argue about whether Guiza meant to score but, in my opinion, the goal was deliberate. Anyhow this mattered little to the South Africans, who seemed to have been thwarted by the world champions.
- Guiza is mobbed after scoring
The host’s attacked immediately after the restart, and were gifted a chance in the 91st minute when the team received a freekick 25 yards from goal. South African goalscorer Mphela stepped up, and proceeded to drive a stunning shot into the Spanish goal. Iker Casillas was left rooted as the stadium erupted; 2-2.
- Mphela drives home his freekick- stunning the Spainards
The first half of extra time saw Spain go close, Capdevila’s cross eluded both attackers and defenders alike and instead clipped the South African crossbar. Spain also had a decent penalty shout turned down after Gaxa appeared to handle in the box. But the winner came in the second half of extra time-when Xabi Alonso’s low freekick curled into the net. South Africa couldn’t recover, and the world champions became the 2009 Confederations cup bronze medalists.
A 5 goal thriller comes as a fitting end to South Africa’s confederation cup run, and whilst the hosts never looked capable of winning the tournament, they certainly hosted an event which will go down as one of the most entertaining in confederation cup history.
