26 Jun 2010

Spain to meet Portugal, Chile to face Brazil

8:31 am on 26 June 2010

The European champions Spain have beaten Chile 2-1 at the football World Cup in Pretoria, but both teams have reached the knockout stages anyway.

That's because their Group H opponents Switzerland and Honduras played out a goalless draw in Bloemfontein.

Spain's victory came thanks to first-half goals from David Villa and Andres Iniesta, while Chile also copped a red card before half-time to midfielder Marco Estrada, his second bookable offence earning the sending-off.

The results mean Spain now play Portugal in the last 16 and Chile face five-time champions Brazil, after the Brazilians topped their group above the Portugese with a spiteful goalless draw in Durban.

The Durban deadlock was Brazil's first scoreless World Cup game in 32 years - though they still won their group, while Portugal are remarkably yet to concede a goal at the tournament.

Ivory Coast's 3-nil win over North Korea at Nelspruit wasn't enough for the Africans in the other Group G game.