Johannesburg: The opening half of extra time of World Cup Soccer final on July 11 saw Spain tightening the screws and pressing hard for a goal and they could have done that on three occasions.
In the 93rd minute, Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez could not take the shots under close shadowing by Dutch defenders and David Villa’s hit went wide.
Two minutes later, Cesc Fabregas, who came in for Xabi Alonso in the 87th minute, had only Maarten Stekelenburg to beat but the Arsenal captain shot straight to the Dutch keeper. Iniesta then took too long to shoot with only keeper in front only to be cleared by chasing Dutch captain Bronckhorst.
Five minutes into the second half extra time, Iniesta went down after being challenged by Heitinga just in front of the box and the referee had no hesitation to show the second yellow card to the Dutch defender and the ejection from the match.
Then came the goal which created history for Spain. In the 116th minute, Fernando Torres, who took the field in the beginning of second half extra time, clipped a cross into the box for Fabregas who sent the ball for Iniesta inside the box.
