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Wednesday June 17, 2009 Finished

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Spain

  • Villa 55’

Iraq

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  1. Villa seals win over Iraq

    Villa seals win over Iraq

    David Villa's goal sealed a 1-0 win for Spain over Iraq in Bloemfontein as they made it two wins out of two in the Confededarations Cup. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Spain
    • Iraq
    • - Don't forget, we'll have commentary of the other Group A game later this evening. South Africa v New Zealand: LIVE at 19:30 UK time!
    • 90+2' The final whistle goes in Bloemfontein, and it's two wins out of two for Spain. Much credit is due to Iraq for avoiding a repeat of the fate that befell New Zealand, but there was only ever one team in it.
    • 88' Younis Mahmoud chases and then holds the ball up well with three men around him. He plays the ball back to Nashat, who checks himself and SHOOTS... Casillas watches the shot go wide. What a sucker punch that would have been for Spain.
    • 87' Sergio Ramos chests the ball down and decides to strike from distance, but his shot was always swinging off target.
    • 84' Sergio Ramos fires in a cross that Torres gets a touch to, but he can't control the ball and a Ramos foul earns Iraq a reprieve.
    • 83' Karrar wins a free-kick. The free-kick is delivered from the left but no Iraqi players are anywhere near it.
    • 82' Xavi comes off to be replaced by another Barcelona midfielder, Sergio Busquets.
    • 81' The ball sits up invitingly for Guiza to fire a half-volley from 25 yards, but it's well wide.
    • 80' Zahra has worked hard for his side as the lone front man, and he's about to be replaced by Younis Mahmoud.
    • 79' Mata plays a great one-two with Torres but his first-time shot is right at the keeper. That would have been a cracking goal.
    • 77' Regardless of the one-sided nature of this contest, the fans are all having a greattime by the looks of things. Another goal, from either side, would be just reward for them keeping an atmosphere going throughout.
    • 75' David Villa has got his second goal in two games, and is rewarded with a nice rest as Dani Guiza comes on to replace him.
    • 74' David Silva fouls Nashat as the Iraq captain turns in midfield.
    • 72' Villa barges into the back of Basem as he chases a long ball, and is rightly penalised but not booked.
    • 71' Another nice one and two-touch move from Spain culminates in Mata's shot zipping iwde of the foot of the post.
    • 70' Hawar is replaced by Karer Jasim for Iraq.
    • 69' Alonso really fancies a goal today. He strikes from 25 yards out but his shot was always rising.
    • 68' Alonso floats a diagonal ball forward but Sergio Ramos is at full stretch but still can't stop it going out for a goal kick.
    • 67' Spain's first change sees Santi Cazorla replaced by David Silva, another Spainiard linked with a host of top clubs this summer.
    • 66' Villa pings a great curling ball forward for Torres to latch on to. The Liveprool man times his run perfectly but lifts his left-footed shot over the bar.
    • 65' Spain stringing plenty of passes together around the Iraq area. Eventually Mata gets dwon to the right byline and fires a low ball across that Kadhem gets down to hold just as Villa is about to pounce.
    • 63' Vicente del bosque is yet to make any changes. He is not taking this 1-0 lead for granted.
    • 61' Want to see a nice action image of four footballers all pulling funny faces? View it here
    • 60' Iraq make the first change, with Saeed coming on for Samer.
    • 59' Iraq are still down to 10 men, and Spain continue to have fun down the elft with Capdevila and Mata take turns to fire in crosses.
    • 58' From the corner the ball comes out to ALONSO... The first-time low drive is saved well by Kadhem!
    • 57' Capdevila's cross is blocked by Kareem, and the full-back must have pulled something because he is stretchered off before the corner is taken.
    • 56' The goal is harsh on Iraq, who were beginning to emerge following the break.
    • 55' GOAL!! Joan Capdevila digs out a cross from the byline and David Villa is all on his own to steer a header into the far bottom corner!
    • 54' Nashat will take the free-kick, about 25 yards from goal. It's cleanly struck, but well wide of Casillas's near post.
    • 53' Marchena goes into the book for a cynical body check on Zahra, who is steadily making his presence felt more and more in this match.
    • 52' Xavi plays the corner back to Cazorla, and the Villarreal man curls in a great cross for DAVID VILLA TO HEAD... Straight at the keeper! should be 1-0 to Spain.
    • 51' Villa tees up a half-volley and shoots, but it's blocked on its way to goal. Nobody appeals for handball.
    • 50' Villa looks to almost latch on to a ball over the top, but he was offside when he began his run.
    • 49' Zahra battles with Marchena and fells the Spain defender.
    • 48' Spain resume where they left off in the first half, keeping the possession but being frustrated by the Iraqis, who are keeping plenty behind the ball.
    • 47' Zahra chases a through ball but Marchena manages to slide in and steer it towards Casillas, who clears.
    • 46' The second half is underway!
    • 45+1' Spain switch from left to right and back again, but can't work an opportunity. The referee blows up for half-time.
    • 45' Xavi floats a ball up for Torres, but Shaker is there to head it away first.
    • 44' A loose ball drops for Alonso but his first-time shot is another tame one.
    • 43' Mata's cross goes over Torres's head but Iraq fail to clear convincingly.
    • 42' Iraq coach Bora Milutinovic will be pleased if his side to keep the score like this until half-time.
    • 41' Xavi's curling delivery is a good one and Capdevila meets it with his head but it's a weak effort. Kadhem goes to ground a catches, and then holds his head after Sergio Ramos follows up. Replays show he has no reason to feign injury.
    • 40' Salam is penalised for shoulder-blocking TOrres, and it's another dead-ball chance for Spain - this time near the right-hand corner of the Iraq penalty area.
    • 39' Iraq have men forward for the set piece, but the Spain defnce steps up and gets the offside.
    • 38' Xabi Alonso goes into the book for a high-footed challenge on Hawar.
    • 37' David Villa gets the ball on the edge of the box and curls an effort wide of the far post.
    • 36' Iraq beginning to retain the ball a little better now, but they are still struggling to get out of their half as they lack an outlet.
    • 35' The official stats state that Spain have had 55% of the possession, but it feels like a lot more than that.
    • 34' Xavi's corner to Alonso is overhit, but the Liverpool man still manages to hoist a ball back into the box. Iraq eventually clear.
    • 33' Spain are taking it easy now. Del Bosque may make some changes at the break to inject some life into his side.
    • 32' Fernando Torres looks mystified as to how he conceded a foul.
    • 31' don't forget, tomorrow you can follow LIVE comments of SPain take on England in the European Under-21 Championships in Sweden. Euro Under-21s homepage
    • 30' Cazorla drags a shot wide of the target from the edge of the box. Much better than his earlier effort.
    • 29' Anyway, Spain have won a free-kick on the right-hand side. Xavi bends a cross in but nobody can get an attacking head to it.
    • 28' Almost half an hour in, and the horns in the crowd show no sign of abating - it sounds like a swarm of insects after buzzing above the stadium.
    • 27' Fareed doggedly hustles after Gerard Pique as the defender carries the ball forward, but eventually concedes the foul.
    • 26' Sergio Ramos concedes another foul, this time on Nashat.
    • 25' Sergio Ramos pings in an inviting cross to the far post for DAVID VILLA TO VOLLEY... Into the side netting!
    • 23' The Iraqis are sticking rigidly to their banks of five and four, but they can only maintain that for so long.
    • 22' Marchena heads a long ball from Iraq clear of Zahra but almost concedes the corner. He keeps it in and clears under pressure.
    • 21' Sergio Ramos is penalised - a little harshly - for fouling Basem Abbas after the full-back dithered on the ball.
    • 20' Iraq have barely had a kick so far, but it's worth noting that New Zealand were 3-0 by this time in their match against Spain.
    • 19' Zahra fouls Xavi, who takes the free-kick quickly, but too quickly for Torres. The ball is fired back upfield by Sergio Ramos, but Mata is again just offside.
    • 18' Iraq are standing off Xabi Alonso, allowing the Liverpool all the time he wants to pick out those inch-perfect passes.
    • 17' Torres plays a great one-two with Xavi and is in the area... Goalkeeper Kadhem slides out to block the effort well.
    • 16' Spain win a corner. Xavi curls it towards Torres but Pique gets there first, only to glance the header wide.
    • 15' Torres is too eager and fouls Mahomed ALi chasing down a loose ball.
    • 14' You can check out the previous winners and Players of the Tournament here. Confederations Cup: Previous winners
    • 13' Still the European champions on top against their Asian counterparts. Carlos Marchena and Gerard Pique have had virtually nothing to do at the back.
    • 12' Xabi Alonso's crossfield pass just skips away from Cazorla and out of play.
    • 11' Villa runs over the dead ball for Xavi, who backheels it for Capdevila to strike, but the wall has already stepped out for enough to block the effort.
    • 10' Mata goes down on the edge of the box, and Spain have a good set-piece opportunity here.
    • 9' Santi Cazorla cuts inside to strike, but the low shot is tame and an easy save.
    • 8' STATWATCH: Check out our rundown of each of the eight teams in the tournament. Confederations Cup stats
    • 7' The Spanish have barely given Iraq a look-in thus far. The Asian champions are chasing shadows.
    • 6' Valencia winger Juan Mata is caught offside.
    • 5' David Villa twists and turns at the byline, but he is coolly dispossesed by Samer.
    • 4' Spain win a free-kick. Alonso takes it just in front of the halfway line, and Iraq have all 11 players back behind the ball.
    • 3' Iraq, unsurprisingly, are lined up very defensively, with only Alaa up front and captain Nashat in behind him.
    • 2' Spain play keep-ball almost from the word go. Torres attempts a burst forward but is thwarted before he gets to the box.
    • 1' The match is underway!
    • - The national anthems have been played, hands have been shaken, and Iraq will kick off.
    • - Fernando Torres - who bagged a 17-minute hat-trick against the Kiwis - starts again, as does one-man transfer rumour machine David Villa. Cesc Fabregas, that game's other goalscorer, drops to the bench.
    • - Spain dished out a 5-0 thrashing to New Zealand in their Group A opener, while Asian champions Iraq recorded a 0-0 against hosts South Africa.

  • Summary

    • 79' Mata plays a great one-two with Torres but his first-time shot is right at the keeper. That would have been a cracking goal.
    • 55' GOAL!! Joan Capdevila digs out a cross from the byline and David Villa is all on his own to steer a header into the far bottom corner!
    • 52' Xavi plays the corner back to Cazorla, and the Villarreal man curls in a great cross for DAVID VILLA TO HEAD... Straight at the keeper! should be 1-0 to Spain.
    • 41' Xavi's curling delivery is a good one and Capdevila meets it with his head but it's a weak effort. Kadhem goes to ground a catches, and then holds his head after Sergio Ramos follows up. Replays show he has no reason to feign injury.
    • 37' David Villa gets the ball on the edge of the box and curls an effort wide of the far post.
    • 30' Cazorla drags a shot wide of the target from the edge of the box. Much better than his earlier effort.
    • 25' Sergio Ramos pings in an inviting cross to the far post for DAVID VILLA TO VOLLEY... Into the side netting!
    • - Spain dished out a 5-0 thrashing to New Zealand in their Group A opener, while Asian champions Iraq recorded a 0-0 against hosts South Africa.

Team lineup & ratings

  • Spain

    Manager: Vicente Del Bosque

    Captain: Iker Casillas

  • Iraq

    Manager: Bora Milutinovic

    Captain: Nashat Akram

  • Lineup

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Spain

      Manager: Vicente Del Bosque

      Captain: Iker Casillas

      Starting line-up

      • I. Casillas
      • S. Ramos
      • C. Marchena Yellow Card
      • G. Pique
      • J. Capdevila
      • X. Alonso Yellow Card
      • .. Xavi Substitution Out (81′)
      • S. Cazorla Substitution Out (67′)
      • J. Mata
      • D. Villa Goal Substitution Out (72′)
      • F. Torres

      Subs

      • 5. C. Puyol
      • 23. J. Reina
      • 18. A. Riera
      • 12. C. Busquets Substitution In81′
      • 17. D. Guiza Substitution In72′
      • 10. C. Fabregas
      • 13. D. López
      • 2. R. Albiol
      • 19. A. Arbeloa
      • 21. D. Silva Substitution In67′
      • 6. D. Pablo Hernández

    • Iraq

      Manager: Bora Milutinovic

      Captain: Nashat Akram

      Starting line-up

      • K. K. Kadhem
      • A. Kareem Substitution In (61′)
      • S. Shaker
      • F. Majeed
      • R. Ali Hussein
      • B. Abbas Yellow Card
      • N. Akram
      • M. Khalid
      • H. Mulla
      • S. Saeed Substitution Out (61′)
      • A. Zahra Substitution Out (78′)

      Subs

      • M. Emad
      • A. Mahmoud Substitution In78′
      • M. Sadir
      • M. Ridha
      • N. Sabri
      • O. Talib
      • D. Habeeb
      • M. Halkard Mulla
      • A. Isam
      • L. Salah
      • A. Abu Al-Hail
      • K. Jasim Substitution In69′
      • M. Haward Substitution Out69′

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card - -
      Substitution Out81′ - -
      Substitution Out67′ - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Goal Substitution Out72′ - -
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In81′ - -
      Substitution In72′ - -
      Substitution In67′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      Substitution In61′ - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out61′ - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out78′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In78′ - -
      Substitution In69′ - -
      Substitution Out69′

Comment 118 - 137 of 137

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  1. and now...
    'Little known facts'
    brought to you­ by Skinboat69

    In 1998, lightning struck a football­ field in South Africa in the 16th minute of a match­ between Spain and Italy. The Lightning bolt­ miraculously killed all of the Italian players whilst­ leaving the Spanish players unharmed. Spain Finally­ scored their first goal in the 70th minute of play and­ won the game 1-0 (true story)
    GO USA!!!!!

    From skinboat69, on Wed 24 Jun 4:41PM

  2. exactly, thanks for defending me Farzeen, i do nothing­ and everybody attacks me with racism. they will deal­ with their conscience

    From skinboat69, on Thu 18 Jun 6:25PM

  3. man who commited with racism will get heavy punishment­ from God..we are all same skinboat69,we all will see­ the God soon and responsible with every words we say..

    From Fazreen A, on Thu 18 Jun 2:00PM

  4. villa already said he will not be going to the english­ league even if they pay him more.

    i knew it was going­ to be a 1-0, iraq played really defensive, even when­ they were losing.
    most of the time they had their 11­ players on their half field.

    good game though, and the­ iraqi goaly did a good job too.

    From Paco, on Thu 18 Jun 9:44AM

  5. Torres and villa for Liverpool up front what a power­ partnership that would be.

    From marklbelluk, on Thu 18 Jun 9:28AM

  6. its was a great match between Spain and Iraq, Iraq­ played awesome and they should be proud of themselves­ playing with the best and the result was only 1-0.­ Good Luck next match for IRAQ.

    From DA_PuNi$HER, on Thu 18 Jun 6:42AM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    no Cesc Spain could only scored 1 !

    From Renan, on Thu 18 Jun 6:37AM

  8. 14 straight wins? thats impressive.

    From mh, on Wed 17 Jun 11:21PM

  9. btw skinboat bellalala92 said failed geography subject­ ? i think he means you .

    From spec o, on Wed 17 Jun 10:13PM

  10. you are from iraq , skinboat69

    From spec o, on Wed 17 Jun 9:55PM

  11. hi
    i think some peopel dos not make different between­ footboll as sport and polatic which its 2 different­ things and it sould not be mixed.
    some peopel sould be­ given red card for ther comments.

    From Hawraman, on Wed 17 Jun 9:26PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I'm guessing Germany since there are so many­ refugees there... (and you gave me a hint, ya?)­ although most of the refugees in Germany are Turkish,­ but hey, Turkey- Iran- Iraq, it' all the same bunch­ of @#$% extremists.
    but you shouldn't assume­ I'm from Spain just because i speak Spanish. Ich­ sprechen Deutsche, je parle français, parlo italiano,­ and 나는­ 한국어를­ 말한다 (that's right­ baby, Korean)
    and now i just gave you a hint of where­ I'm from. ;-) good luck.

    From skinboat69, on Wed 17 Jun 8:55PM

  13. ah never mind yourself you spainard @#$% , looks like­ your jealous from an iraqi person, right , ha ? well­ youre one of the people who always think they are­ better than everyone .BTW Im from Europe but I wont­ tell you exactly where to let you guess , hmmm maybe­ you will say iran ,ya, no no , definetly iraq , right?

    From spec o, on Wed 17 Jun 7:34PM

  14. Vamos Españoles ponedle buenas marcas a mis­ commentarios para que se muestren en la pagina y estos­ mequetrefes tendran que leerlos, recordeis el 3-11?­ Vamos España

    From skinboat69, on Wed 17 Jun 7:12PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I wish iraq never in football

    From Jim, on Wed 17 Jun 7:05PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    really? that didn't make sense to you? well you­ see, in Iraq, instead of cars... ah never mind, how­ about this one? Why don't they teach Drivers­ Education. and Sex Education. on the same day in the­ middle east?

    The camels would get too tired!

    so where­ are you from spac-o?
    oh BTW... bellalala, thanks for­ calling me awesome ;-)

    From skinboat69, on Wed 17 Jun 6:24PM

  17. Lousy result, but Spain did enough to get the points.­ Credit to Iraq though.

    From gordon.merk, on Wed 17 Jun 6:19PM

  18. yeah thats funny skinboat , making jokes that make no­ sense at all , try better than that

    From spec o, on Wed 17 Jun 6:16PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Great game tonight, Spain won 1-0 but Iraqis put up a­ good fight. however I'm sensing some hostilities­ here, so, here's another stab (no punn intended) at­ trying to patch things up. i offer you a joke: What do­ you call a guy with his hand up a camels @#$%?

    An­ Iraqi mechanic!

    From skinboat69, on Wed 17 Jun 6:07PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Iran- Iraq... Same thing ??? you are so dumb ..........

    From spec o, on Wed 17 Jun 5:53PM
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