South Africa vs. Spain: 6 Things We Learned from Bafana Bafana Win

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: November 19, 2013

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South Africa scored a massive coup as they beat world and European champions Spain 1-0 on Tuesday night.

Bernard Parker scored the only goal of the game early in the second half.

The hosts attacked, as they had done frequently, down the left, playing good football before slipping in Parker to dink a finish over Victor Valdes.

La Roja huffed and puffed afterwards but never came close to breaching Itumeleng Khune's goal until Raul Albiol drew a stunning save from him in stoppage time.

It was Spain's first defeat since they lost to Brazil in the Confederations Cup in the summer, and their first defeat in a friendly since they lost to England in 2011.

Here are six things we learned from South Africa's memorable night.

 

It meant more to Spain (at first)


On paper it was just another friendly, but in reality Spain's trip to South Africa carried much more significance to the Spanish public than their previous jaunts to Haiti, Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabia.

That's because it marked the return to a ground where their dreams came true.

"Watching it again still gives me shivers," Iker Casillas told AS on Tuesday, speaking of his save from Arjen Robben which kept the 2010 World Cup final at 0-0.

Andres Iniesta would go on to score an extra-time winner and Spain, not Holland, were crowned world champions in Johannesburg.

Television, newspapers and websites were filled with anecdotes and memories in the build-up to La Roja's return to South Africa.

Unfortunately a nearly empty stadium suggests the Bafana Bafana fans weren't feeling as nostalgic.



 

But South Africa's players weren't caught in the nostalgia


When the home side eventually took the lead, it was in a style their more illustrious visitors would have been proud of.

A flowing move down the le...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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