Spain wins World Cup
JOHANNESBURG — Andres Iniesta scored with four minutes of extra time remaining Sunday to give Spain a deserved 1-0 win over the Netherlands and a first World Cup title.
With the teams facing a penalty shootout in a game of few clear chances, Iniesta collected a sliding pass into the area from substitute Cesc Fabregas and smashed the ball across goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and in at the far post.
The goal ended an often ill-tempered match and made Spain only the third team to be world and European champion at the same time.
The teams created few clear chances in normal time at Soccer City but the game opened up slightly after a cagey opening hour in which the Netherlands broke up Spain’s attempts to get its famous passing game going with physical play that brought the Dutch eight yellow cards.
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Defender John Heitinga got a red card in the 19th minute of extra time to become only the fifth man to be sent off in a World Cup final.
With Spain also collecting five yellow cards, the final yellow card count beat the previous record of six in the 1986 final between Argentina and West Germany and made the final the dirtiest of all time.
| Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 0—0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 0 | 0 | 1—1 |
First half_None.
Second half_None.
Extra time_1, Spain, Andres Iniesta 2, 116th minute.
Shots_Netherlands 14, Spain 21.
Shots On Goal_Netherlands 4, Spain 5.
Yellow Cards_Netherlands, Robin Van Persie, 15th; Mark Van Bommel, 22nd; Nigel De Jong, 28th; Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, 54th; John Heitinga, 57th; Arjen Robben, 84th; Gregory Van der Wiel, 111th; Joris Mathijsen, 117th. Spain, Carles Puyol, 17th; Sergio Ramos, 23rd; Joan Capdevila, 67th; Andres Iniesta, 118th; Xavi, 120th, injury time.
Red Card_Netherlands, John Heitinga, 109th.
Offsides_Netherlands 7, Spain 6.
Fouls Committed_Netherlands 28, Spain 19.
Fouls Against_Netherlands 18, Spain 28.
Corner Kicks_Netherlands 6, Spain 8.
Referee_Howard Webb, England. Linesmen_Darren Cann, England; Michael Mullarkey, England.
A_84,490.
| Lineups |
|---|
Netherlands: Maarten Stekelenburg; Gregory Van der Wiel, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst (Edson Braafheid, 105th); Mark Van Bommel, Nigel De Jong (Rafael Van der Vaart, 99th), Wesley Sneijder; Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt (Eljero Elia, 71st), Robin Van Persie.
Spain: Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila; Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso (Cesc Fabregas, 87th), Andres Iniesta, Xavi; Pedro (Jesus Navas, 60th), David Villa (Fernando Torres, 106th).
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