Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso scored off a free-kick to give Spain a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over South Africa on Sunday in the Confederations Cup third-place playoff.
A largely incident-less game sprang to life late in the second half when Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela scored only for another substitute, Daniel Guiza, to strike twice for Spain within 60 seconds. Mphela struck again three minutes into injury-time to add 30 minutes on to the match and Spain took the lead again to defeat the host nation for the second time in nine days after a 2-0 group win.
The hosts made one change from the team that held Brazil until two minutes from time in the semi-finals, with suspended midfield enforcer MacBeth Sibaya back in place of Benson Mhlongo. Spain reacted to a shock defeat by the US in the first semi-final with four changes, as Raul Albiol, Sergio Busquets, Alvaro Arbeloa and Santi Cazorla came in and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas was among those rested.
PHOTO: EPA
FIFA president Sepp Blatter was present on a sunny winter afternoon in the northwest mining town and Spain were first to threaten with David Villa forcing a spectacular one-handed save from Itumeleng Khune.
South Africa crowd favorite Matthew Booth, whose every touch triggers chants of “Booooooooth,” let his fan club down on 14 minutes after getting behind the Spanish defense. Instead of heading to the right of goalkeeper Iker Casillas, the giant central defender could only nod the ball forward and harmlessly wide to the relief of the Euro 2008 champions.
A superb tackle from fullback Tsepo Masilela — one of the finds of the two-week 2010 World Cup dress rehearsal — foiled Liverpool striker Fernando Torres midway through a cagey opening half.
Although South Africa lie 71 places below top ranked Spain they held their own before a crowd packed with vuvuzela-blowing spectators and when Casillas parried a Siphiwe Tshabalala drive, Booth fired the rebound wide.
Brazil-born Bafana coach Joel Santana is a hard man to satisfy and he arose from his touchline chair a couple of minutes before halftime and unleashed a verbal rant at his hard-working, organized team.
Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets was the only player cautioned in the first half and Everton star Steven Pienaar joined him in the notebook of Australian referee Matthew Breeze just after halftime.
Busquets had a goal correctly disallowed with three Spaniards offside and Khune did well to hold an Albert Riera shot as the visitors lifted their game and looked more likely to break the deadlock.
However, it was South Africa who took the lead thanks to a brilliant off-the-ball run by Tshabalala, who latched on to a cross and pushed it across the goalmouth for Mphela to control before firing into the roof of the net. It appeared enough to give South Africa victory until a remarkable end to regular time saw Spain score twice within 60 seconds through Guiza, before Mphela leveled.
Guiza fired the ball through a forest of legs and past Khune into the corner for an 88th-minute equalizer and then saw his cross dip behind the goalkeeper into the net. South Africa may have been stunned, but their spirit remained strong and when awarded a free-kick well outside the penalty area, Mphela stepped up and drove an unstoppable shot past Casillas.
Spain had a claim for handball inside the penalty area by Mhlongo late in the first period of extra-time ignored, before Alonso curled his free-kick around the wall and over Fernando Llorente and Booth into the corner of the net for the winner.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
RSS