Referee: Marco RodrÃguez (Mexico)
LINEUPS:
Chile (433): Bravo, Jara, Vidal, Ponce, Medel, Carmona (Tello 83'), Isla, Valdivia, Suazo, Beausejour (Millar 72'), Sanchez (Orellana 45')
Spain (442): Casillas, Ramos, Capdevila, Puyol, Pique, Busquets, Alonso (Navas 65'), Xavi, Villa (Llorente 83'), Torres, Iniesta (Martinez 54')
Arturo Vidal returned to the lineup for Chile after missing the last game through suspension and picked up another yellow card in the 40th minute to place him one foul away from another sending off. He survived and so did Chile through the first half after they had the first shot at goal. After Carmona shot wide Spain started coming in waves with Bravo needing to be at his best to stop Alonso scoring in the 15th minute. Villa and Xavi squandered chances with the latter scuffing both his shots into the ground to end up as easy pickings for Bravo. Chile would have one very long range effort before halftime, but no matter how powerful it was it was still straight at Casillas.
Chile picked it up in the second half and should have had the lead in the 51st minute when Vidal missed badly from a few yards out. Beausejour headed over and Valdivia, who had the ranged shot in the first half, smacked another one from distance this time hitting the crossbar. Spain were kept off balance, unable to generate much at the other end and their inability to adapt would cost them top spot in Group H. With only seconds until the referee was due to blow the final whistle two Chilean subs combined to create some very late drama.
Rodrigo Tello fed a very nice ball through for Rodrigo Millar to run onto but Pique looked to have had a hold on his shirt as the midfielder entered the area, leading to Mr Rodriguez pointing to the spot. Up stepped Humberto Suazo who had played a very quiet game to dispatch the penalty and score his tournament-leading fourth goal.
Chile 1 - 0 Spain
Goalscorers:
CHI Suazo 90' (4)
Discipline:
CHI Vidal 40'
Man of the Match:
ESP Carles Puyol
GROUP H | ||||||||
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
Chile | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 9 |
Spain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 6 |
Honduras | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
Switzerland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
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