FIFA 2010 World Cup Preview: Paraguay 0 - 1 Spain

Villa saves Spain after penalty drama

David Villa enhanced his reputation as the World Cup's outstanding striker with a late goal to give a below-par Spain a 1-0 win over Paraguay and book a semi-final clash with Germany, in what will be a repeat of the Euro 2008 final.

The 28-year-old struck his fifth goal of the finals to send the perennial underachievers into the last four of the World Cup for the first time.

It was tough on Paraguay who had matched the European champions for much of the game - and though this has been a World Cup of shocks, the needle would have gone off the Richter scale if the South Americans had triumphed.

FIFA 2010 World Cup Preview: Paraguay (5)0 - 0(3) Japan | Final score - after penalties

Paraguay through on pens

Paraguay progressed through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history after beating Japan in a penalty shoot-out in Pretoria. With neither side able to make the breakthrough during 120 minutes of precious few goalscoring chances or notable incidents, it needed the first shootout of the 2010 World Cup to separate the two nations.

FIFA World Cup 2010: Slovakia 0 - 2 Paraguay

Vera and Riveros seal win

A first-half strike from winger Enrique Vera and a late strike from Cristian Riveros saw Paraguay claim a deserved 2-0 victory over Slovakia.

It was just the result Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino was looking for after the draw with reigning world champions Italy in their opening game and puts the team in sight of the second round.

Vera made the breakthrough in the 27th minute after a spell of sustained pressure at the Free State Stadium and, while Paraguay then squandered a number of good chances to extend their advantage, Riveros sealed the win with five minutes to go.

It is Slovakia's first appearance in the finals and they are heading for an early exit. The team's only effort of note came in stoppage time when substitute Filip Holosko's shot was turned over the bar by goalkeeper Justo Villar.

Paraguay dictated the pace from the start and Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz, who returned after a minor injury, came close to scoring twice. He almost gave his side the lead in the third minute, his effort turned away at the post by Everton-bound goalkeeper Jan Mucha.

Then Nelson Valdez turned quickly but saw his effort go wide before play switched back down the other end. Marek Hamsik played the ball out to Jan Durica but he sent his shot over the bar.

Paraguay were having the majority of possession and Paulo Da Silva was only inches away from making contact at the back post following a free-kick by Claudio Morel.

Cristian Riveros then drilled a shot from the edge of the area but Mucha was equal to it before Lucas Barrios was off target from an acute angle. Slovakia again found themselves on the back foot in the 24th minute but Valdez fired wide.

Paraguay's pressure paid on the 27th minute when they made the breakthrough. Barrios released Vera and he got the better of Durica to hook the ball home.

Slovakia hit back and Kornel Salata headed over the bar from inside the area in the 37th minute. It proved brief respite, however, with Santa Cruz almost adding a second a minute later only for Mucha to boot the ball clear.

Slovakia tried to step up the tempo at the start of the second half but Paraguay looked well in control.

Vera should have scored his second goal of the game in the 72nd minute following a swift counter attack. However, he steered a header wide in front of the posts following a cross and some good skill from Santa Cruz, who was unhappy at some of his treatment from Liverpool's Martin Skrtel.

Substitute Aureliano Torres then saw his effort take a deflection off a Slovakia defender and finish high over the bar.

Paraguay extended their advantage in the 85th minute when Da Silva played the ball into Riveros and he curled a shot into the corner.

FIFA World Cup 2010: Italy 1 - 1 Paraguay

Defending champions Italy had to come from behind to salvage a draw in their World Cup Group F opener against Paraguay in Cape Town.

Having played well in the first half at Green Point Stadium the 2006 winners were shocked when Wigan-bound defender Antolin Alcaraz rose to head home a 39th-minute free-kick.

But Italy's blushes were spared as Daniele De Rossi slid in to punish a mistake by Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar after 63 minutes and take a point from the match. As expected, Italy coach Marcello Lippi had left Serie A's top goalscorer Antonio Di Natale on the bench, instead selecting Alberto Gilardino with Vincenzo Iaquinta out wide.

Gerardo Martino also opted to leave out his two highest-profile forwards in Benfica's Oscar Cardozo and Manchester City man Roque Santa Cruz. Instead, Borussia Dortmund team-mates Lucas Barrios and Nelson Valdez were deployed in attack.

Claudio Morel had to be alert to stop Simone Pepe pouncing on a dangerous ball at the back post in the sixth minute as Italy set the early pace. Despite some neat passing moves, chances were few and far between.

Paraguay did exert some form of pressure midway through the half with two corners, before Riccardo Montolivo broke forward for Italy but could only hit a meek shot at Villar. In the 22nd minute Aureliano Torres mis-hit a shot which only just bobbled wide of Gianluigi Buffon's goal.

Italy were stunned six minutes before the break when Paraguay went in front from a set-piece. Torres' launched free-kick from deep was perfectly flighted and with Fabio Cannavaro and De Rossi flailing, Alcaraz headed past Buffon.

Buffon was surprisingly substituted at the break, replaced by Cagliari goalkeeper Federico Marchetti having reportedly suffered a back injury.

Enrique Vera had two sighters for Paraguay while Pepe missed with a spectacular bicycle kick attempt and Montolivo's weak shot was easily saved. Martino sent on midfielder Jonathan Santana for Torres while Lippi sacrificed Marchisio for Mauro Camoranesi to go 4-4-2 shortly before the hour mark.

Victor Caceres was booked for a late slide on Montolivo before Italy finally made the pressure tell to go level. Villar horribly missed Pepe's corner from the left, allowing a delighted De Rossi to simply stab the ball home.

Italy had a penalty shout denied by Mexican Benito Archundia when Montolivo went down under a robust shoulder challenge from Paulo Da Silva before, at the other end, Barrios found Santana who dragged his shot off target.

Santa Cruz was given his chance in the 68th minute when he came on for Valdez before Camoranesi was booked for a foul on Vera. Di Natale finally got his opportunity in the 72nd minute when he replaced Gilardino while Cardozo also had a taste when he came on for Barrios.

Good work from Di Natale set up Udinese team-mate Pepe for a half-decent shot while, at the opposite end, Cannavaro blocked a Santa Cruz header.

Montolivo did threaten with an 83rd minute long-range effort which brought out the best in Villar, who sprawled low to his right to save, but Italy were unable to complete the turnaround by snatching a winner.