Fabregas consoles Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo
World Cup: Fabregas and Spain stay on track
The 2010 World Cup is approaching its climax and Arsenal.com will be keeping you regularly updated with the progress of the Arsenal players still involved at the tournament.
Cesc Fabregas
Spain 1-0 Portugal, Second Round
Tuesday, June 29
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
Cesc Fabregas was left on the bench as Spain booked their place in the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup.
David Villa scored the only goal of the game against Portugal - his fourth of the tournament - to set up a last-eight clash with Paraguay.
Fabregas has come off the bench to good effect twice in South Africa but coach Vicente Del Bosque kept the Arsenal captain under wraps on this occasion.
Instead another substitute, striker Fernando Llorente, made a telling impact. He entered the fray just before the hour mark and gave the Portuguese defence a torrid time.
With more space suddenly available, a slick move ended with Xavi back-heeling to Villa and the Barcelona striker lifted a right-footed effort into the net after keeper Eduardo had saved his first shot.
Llorente came closest to adding to Villa's 63rd-minute strike but one goal was enough to take Spain through - two years to the day since they won the European Championship.
[Wednesday, June 30, 2010]
