Spain beat Bafana Bafana 3-2, sending South Africa crashing out of the World Cup after Paraguay came from behind to defeat Slovenia 3-1 in the other Group B match.
With two goals from Spanish striker Raul for the country’s third successive victory at the World Cup finals, Spain clinched first place in Group B to avoid a meeting in the second round with Germany. The Spanish will now face Ireland on Sunday.
Both South Africa and Paraguay ended the group on four points and the same goal difference, but Paraguay edged through on the greater number of goals scored.
Raul’s winning header on 56 minutes deprived South Africa of the point they needed to guarantee a first ever place in the second round of the World Cup after the Africans had twice bravely fought back to equalise.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the narrow 3-2 scoreline looked like being enough to see the ‘Bafana Bafana’ squeeze into the last 16 by goal difference.
The South Africans for most of the match looked to be on their way through to the last 16, but let the match slip away after twice coming from behind. Ultimately Paraguay’s comeback in the other Group B match proved to be their downfall.
Spain initially led South Africa 2-1 at half-time. A free kick from Lazio’s Gaizka Mendieta in the dying seconds of the half put Spain back in front after a 31st minute equaliser from Benni McCarthy had cancelled out Raul’s early strike.
Spain took the lead in the fourth minute after a terrible error by goalkeeper Andre Arendse.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper looked to have covered the danger then he slid to the edge of his area to gather a Spanish pass from midfield that had been destined for Real Madrid star Raul.
But Arendse could only watch in horror as the ball squirted out of his grasp and straight to the feet of the onrushing Raul who dribbled round for the simplest of finishes, his 27th international goal.
South Africa responded instantly and raised their hopes when midfielder Macbeth Sibaya smashed a vicious 25-yard swerver that forced Iker Casillas to parry away.
Yet it was not long before Spain were on the attack again, and only Arendse’s frantic clearance off the line from a Mendieta shot prevented the South Africans going 2-0 down.
Arendse went some way towards making amends for his costly howler after half an hour with a stupendous save, somehow diving to his right to thwart a powerful header from Fernando Morientes.
Almost immediately South Africa equalised. A hopeful cross into the area was nodded downwards by Siyabonga Nomvethe for McCarthy, who scrambled his shot past the advancing Casillas.
But on the stroke of half-time Mendieta curled in his free kick from the edge of the area to put Spain back in front. – Sapa-AFP