Villa brace sees Spain through
Posted: Jun 21 2010
Spain missed a bucketload of chances, but were still too good for Honduras as they ran out 2-0 winners at Ellis Park on Monday night.
David Villa was the hero with two goals, but then missed out on a great chance for a hat-trick when he put a penalty wide.
Fernando Torres had a horror show in front of goal, missing at least three clear-cut chances on a night the Spanish peppered the Honduran goal.
Spain, as expected, started much the brighter and were inches from the lead after just six minutes. David Villa controlled and turned, and hit a rasping shot from 30 yards which came back off the crossbar.
Pressure was mounting on the Honduran goal and there was a real expectation of ‘when’, rather than ‘if’. That ‘when’ came on 17 minutes when Villa jinked his way past two defenders and then cut inside a third before firing past goalkeeper Noel Valladares.
A second goal for Spain was a longer pair of legs away, as Xavi leapt to meet a Jesus Navas cross and it merely skimmed of his head to safety.
The link-up play from the Spanish midfield was a delight to watch at times and Navas and Sergio Ramos in particular were having much joy down the right flank. Ramos ran rings around the backline of Honduras and found Torres at the far post, but he couldn't get his header on target.
A second chance fell almost immediately to the Liverpool striker, running into the box and turning inside the last defender, but his touch was a little heavy and he fired high into the stand.
Villa almost doubled his tally with five minutes left of the first half; again Navas down the right supplying a low cross into the striker, who just couldn't direct his effort on goal.
Honduras started the second half with a bit of enthusiasm, but the European champions soon had a second goal. Spain broke quickly as Xavi laid the ball wide and a fine cutback from Navas allowed Villa time to take a touch and apply the finish. His shot took a deflection of Chavez, which was enough to take it beyond the keeper.
With an hour on the clock, EmillioNavas was brought down inside the area by Izaguirre and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Villa stepped up on his hat-trick, but slid his effort just wide of the right post.
Cesc Fabregas came on for Xavi and almost found the net with his first touch, but his shot was cleared off the line.
As Spain tried to cool the tempo of the match down, Honduras managed to control the ball better than the first half, but chances were still coming for La Furia Roja. Villa had one attempt blocked down and then very nearly connected with a fired cross by Juan Mata, who replaced Torres.
Villa again found himself in space in the middle, Navas supplying a fine low cross from the right. The Barca frontman took a touch instead of shooting first time and eventually saw his shot blocked in front of goal.
Spain continued to trick and torment in to stoppage time, but in the end will more than settle for the three points. They now go into the vital game with Chile on Friday with some confidence and minutes under the belt of Torres.
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