Spain advance after win over Portugal

David Villa fired European champions Spain into the World Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Iberian neighbours Portugal in Cape Town.

Barcelona's new signing scored broke the deadlock just after the hour mark to end Spain's frustration against a defensively-minded and unambitious Portuguese side, who ended the game with 10 men following the late dismissal of Ricardo Costa.

The pre-tournament favourites will now meet Paraguay, who beat Japan on penalties in the day's early kick-off, in the last eight on Saturday.

Considering the wildly differing approaches to the game, victory was nothing less than the forward-thinking Spanish deserved, even though Portugal had several opportunities on the break to find the back of the net.

Vicente Del Bosque's side roared out of the blocks and forged three good opportunities within the first seven minutes of play, although none were taken.

Fernando Torres, yet to get off the mark at this tournament, sounded Spanish intent with not even a minute on the clock, his crisp strike stinging the fingers of Eduardo.

The keeper was again brought into action two minutes later as David Villa let off a strike on goal before the new Barcelona striker cut inside and let fly with another effort that Eduaro was forced to deal with.

Xavi nearly caught out the Portuguese number one on 12 minutes with a smart first-time effort that looped just over the bar, but Carlos Queiroz's back line stood firm in the face of the early pressure.

And having survived the initial onslaught, Portugal soon settled into their game, which consisted of sitting 10 men behind the ball and waiting to hit on the break.

That gameplan nearly paid off when Tiago fired a 20th-minute shot on the break which Iker Casillas could only parry into the air. Hugo Almeida tried to get to the loose ball but the Spaniard recovered in time to clear to safety.

Real Madrid keeper Casilllas again looked shaky on 28 minutes when he fumbled club-mate Ronaldo's viciously swerving free-kick, and the World Player of the Year was then frustrated when Almeida went for a header, which he put wide, when he was waiting to pounce just behind.

Ronaldo was to do little else for the remainder of the game, and he joins the likes of Wayne Rooney as one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament.

That said, with the score goalless at the break, Queiroz must have been the happier of the two coaches as, after that early salvo, the Spanish had been largely frustrated.

The ineffectual Torres was replaced by Fernando Llorente on 59 minutes and the change appeared to give the Spanish renewed vigour.

The Athletic Bilbao striker nearly opened the scoring with a diving header with virtually his first touch before Villa flashed a shot inches wide of the post just seconds later.

Buoyed from those two chances, Spain finally broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute following a lovely crisp passing move involving Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez before Villa applied the finishing touch at the second attempt, having seen his first stab at goal repelled by Eduardo.

Sergio Ramos was denied a second on 70 minutes by a wonderful stop by Eduardo before Llorente saw a fierce drive saved by the keeper and then glanced a header go wide as full-time approached.

Despite a late bid to find an equaliser, Portugal's involvement at the World Cup ended on a sour note as the game became a little fractious and Costa was dismissed following an off-the-ball clash with Joan Capdevila.

Match stats

Spain v Portugal

Goals 1-0

1st Half Goals 0-0

Shots on Target 8-3

Shots off Target 5-4

Blocked Shots 5-2

Corners 6-3

Fouls 13-18

Offsides 0-3

Yellow Cards 1-1

Red Cards 0-1

Passing Success 89.5%-75.6%

Tackles 16-28

Tackles Success 62.5%-89.3%

Possession 64.5 %-35.5%

Territorial Advantage 56.1%-43.9%

Paraguay beat Japan in shoot-out

Paraguay booked a place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Japan following 120 minutes of dour football in Pretoria.

With the match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium failing to provide any goals - or much entertainment - during normal or extra-time, a shoot-out was needed for the first time at these finals.

Oscar Cardozo was the hero, coolly slotting home his side's fifth penalty after full-back Yuichi Komano had hit the cross bar with Japan's third kick.

Edgar Baretto, Lucas Barrios, Cristian Riveros and Nelson Haedo Valdez all kept their cool for Paraguay, while Yasuhito Endo, captain Makoto Hasebe and Keisuke Honda were on target for Japan.

As ever, it was a cruel way to decide a game, especially one with so much resting on it, but considering the match was so riddled with tension and so sorely lacked any kind of penetrating attacking play, such an outcome was almost inevitable.

Coach Takeshi Okada opted to send out the same team he has done in all three of Japan's previous outings this tournament, while his counterpart Gerardo Martino made three changes, dropping Valdez and Denis Caniza and bringing in Benitez and Nestor Ortigoza. New Wigan signing Antolin Alcaraz came in for the suspended Julio Cesar Caceres.

From the kick-off, the anxiety was apparent in both teams, perhaps understandably considering the magnitude of the clash for each nation.

Japan were content to sit back and look to hit on the break but Paraguay, while they enjoyed more possession, lacked the nous to break down an organised defence.

Moments of true class were few and far between, although two chances in the space of a minute midway through the first half stood out from an otherwise dull opening period.

A beautiful turn from Lucas Barrios on 21 minutes forged a shooting opportunity for the Paraguay striker, but he was denied by the legs of Eiji Kawashima.

And just seconds later, Daisuke Matsui sent a dipping shot from outside the penalty area which struck the cross bar with keeper Justo Villar struggling to get anywhere near it.

Two further chances went begging when Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz dragged wide of the mark after a corner fell kindly at his feet in the box and Japan dangerman Keisuke Honda sliced a shot off target as the half drew to a close, but otherwise there was little to shout about.

It seemed almost impossible, but as a spectacle the game deteriorated even further after the break as both teams' fear of losing got the better of their desire to win the game in regulation time.

With neither side willing to take much of a risk, goalscoring chances were few and far between; Yuto Nagamoto's deflected effort on 53 minutes represented Japan's best effort during the second half - it was easily saved by Villar - while Paraguay's Riveros registered a header on target six minutes later which was straight at Kawashima.

Barrios mirrored Riveros with a firm header on target in extra-time, but the outcome was similar - straight at the keeper. Kawashima was then brought into action by Valdez, the substitute striker turning his man brilliantly before seeing his shot snuffled out, as the game briefly threatened to spark into life.

But aside from a Honda free-kick that was tipped round for post, neither side were capable of conjuring up a way through, leading to the inevitable lottery of the dreaded shoot-out.

Match stats:

Paraguay v Japan

Goals 0-0

1st Half Goals 0-0

Shots on Target 6-2

Shots off Target 5-10

Blocked Shots 4-1

Corners 6-5

Fouls 26-29

Offsides 1-1

Yellow Cards 1-4

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 75.8%-65.9%

Tackles 28-24

Tackles Success 57.1%-70.8%

Possession 60.7%-39.3%

Territorial Advantage 51.7%-48.3%

Ominous Brazil advance past Chile

Brazil demonstrated their power with a 3-0 win over Chile at Ellis Park in Johannesburg to book a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Two goals in quick succession from Juan and Luis Fabiano in the first half got the Selecao on their way before Robinho added a third after the break to make sure of the result.

Dunga's defensively solid yet penetrating side can now look forward to a mouth-watering last-eight clash with Netherlands, who beat Slovakia in the day's earlier kick-off, on Friday.

Chile held their own for half an hour, although their strike force, which included the returning Humberto Suazo, failed to test Brazil keeper Julio Cesar with anything more than speculative long-range shots.

At the other end, the five-times champions took their time to get going, but once they did, two goals flew in within four minutes of each other to effectively sink Chile's challenge.

The opener was most unlike Brazil - in the traditional sense - and was simplicity itself, centre-back Juan rising high to meet a corner with a thumping header into the roof of the net.

But this Brazil side are unlike previous incarnations - they are far more European in construction, incredibly strong at the back, with two holding midfielders playing just in front.

What is more, hard work has been a key to the success of this side so far this tournament, with even the likes of Robinho willing to track back and help out defensively, as he demonstrated during the second half at Ellis Park.

Still, the new-look Brazil does not exclude flair entirely, and the second goal was far more in keeping with their reputation, Kaka slipping the ball through for Luis Fabiano to run onto, round the keeper and slot into an empty net. It was the Sevilla striker's 13th goal in his last 13 competitive appearances for Brazil.

The outcome of the game was effectively sealed in the 59th minute when Robinho curled a shot past keeper Claudio Bravo following a powerful burst forward from midfield by Ramires, deputising for the injured Felipe Melo as one of the two holding midfielders.

It was a devastating break, and one which knocked the wind out of Chile's already half-deflated sails. Brazil looked to capitalise further by going in search of a fourth, and they nearly found it when Dani Alves struck a long-range shot just over the bar.

Kaka, still not playing to his full capabilities, blazed over and Robinho nearly found his second of the night with an angled drive towards the corner of the goal; only an excellent save by Bravo denied him.

The Manchester City-owned man then had a goal disallowed for offside - correctly - before Chile mounted a late charge for a consolation goal. Suazo hit a volley into the ground which bounced up and onto the top of Julio Cesar's crossbar and Jean Beausejour dragged a shot wide of the mark as time ran out, but it was not to be Chile's night.

They slipped to their worst World Cup defeat since losing 4-1 to Brazil at the same stage in 1998 while Brazil marched on having maintained their unbeaten run at the tournament.

Match stats

Goals 3-0

1st Half Goals 2-0

Shots on Target 6-1

Shots off Target 11-7

Blocked Shots 0-6

Corners 8-6

Fouls 14-18

Offsides 1-1

Yellow Cards 2-3

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 76.9%-82%

Tackles 21-31

Tackles Success 81%-77.4%

Possession 47.3%-52.7%

Territorial Advantage 43.9%-56.1%

Robben returns as Dutch make quarters

Netherlands continued their impressive unbeaten run with a 2-1 win over Slovakia in Durban to book a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Arjen Robben returned to the starting line-up to open the scoring on 18 minutes while Wesley Sneijder swooped late on to send the Dutch through to a last-eight showdown with either Brazil or Chile.

Robert Vittek netted a penalty for the Slovaks with the last kick of the game but it was nothing more than a consolation for Vladimir Weiss's homeward-bound team.

The Dutch remain unbeaten at the tournament and have now won their last 12 competitive matches - all eight qualifying matches and four games in South Africa.

But it was far from a classic performance from Bert van Marwijk's side at the Moses Mabhida Stadium where, despite their domination of possession, they lacked the ruthlessness going forward to kill off the game earlier than the 84th minute.

Robben was restored to the starting line-up having appeared just once off the bench at this World Cup - in the victory over Cameroon - due to a hamstring injury.

With three victories out of three, the Oranje could hardly claim to have missed their influential midfielder so far this tournament, but his return was nevertheless a timely fillip.

So hyped has Robben's return to action been, there was almost a hint of inevitability it should be him who broke the deadlock, the Bayern Munich player running onto a long ball forward by Sneijder as the Dutch broke at pace. Robben cut inside two Slovakia defenders before drilling a low shot past Jan Mucha in goal; a goal of incredible simplicity, yet devastating effectiveness.

Robin van Persie had already threatened Mucha's goal, although the Arsenal striker's header was miscued when Dirk Kuyt's floated cross found him in the box after just eight minutes.

The Dutch dominated the remainder of the first half and Van Persie managed to get another two sights of goal, but he miscued a 40th minute shot before firing wide at the near post from Van Bommel's cross just before the half-time whistle.

At the other end, Slovakia's main goal threat Vittek barely got a sniff as skipper Marek Hamsik's creativity in midfield was largely stifled.

After the break, Robben again proved his threat with another shot that Mucha had to be sharp to keep out before he squared the ball for Mark van Bommel just seconds later, only for Mucha to deny Robben's club-mate from close range with his face.

The Dutch were undoubtedly on top but with just a goal in it, the game was far from over. And Slovakia nearly capitalised on Netherlands' failure to put the result to bed with two great chances in the space of seconds.

Maarten Stekelenburg, previously a peripheral figure in the game, had to be at his very best to first tip Miroslav Stoch's fierce strike over the bar and then deny Vittek after the big striker had been played through on goal.

The double scared seemed to invigorate the Dutch, and following a great strike by Kuyt which Mucha tipped around the post, they found that elusive second with a simple sidefooter by Sneijder from Kuyt's square pass following Mucha's ill-advised rush off his line.

There was still time for another goal, Vittek netting his fourth of the past couple of weeks from the spot with the last kick of the game after he had been brought down by Stekelenburg.

But it was nothing more than a final farewell to the tournament for Slovakia as the referee blew for full time immediately after, leaving Netherlands to contemplate a potentially mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Brazil.

Match stats

Goals 2-1

1st Half Goals 1-0

Shots on Target 9-3

Shots off Target 6-7

Blocked Shots 1-4

Corners 5-2

Fouls 17-19

Offsides 2-2

Yellow Cards 2-3

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 80.1%-79.2%

Tackles 17-13

Tackles Success 70.6%-92.3%

Possession 51.7%-48.3%

Territorial Advantage 51%-49%

Argentina beat Mexico to face Germany

Argentina set up a World Cup quarter-final with Germany after a 3-1 win over Mexico in an entertaining second-round clash at Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg.

Carlos Tevez scored twice - one clearly offside and one a wonder-goal - while Gonzalo Higuain capitalised on a defensive error to move to the top of the tournament goal-scoring charts with four in four matches.

New Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez pulled one back with a superb strike of his own as Mexico pushed admirably to find a way back into the game, but Argentina closed the game out to maintain their 100 per cent record at the finals in South Africa.

Diego Maradona’s in-form side face Germany in their last-eight clash on Saturday afternoon.

Mexico took the game to Argentina, as left-back Carlos Salcido whacked an outrageous long-range effort against the bar, winger Andres Guardado pinged a drive inches wide and Hernandez drilled a low shot just wide.

But Argentina went ahead on 26 minutes and it was another officiating error to pour scorn on FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s claims that video technology has no place in football.

Earlier in the day England were denied an equaliser while trailing Germany 2-1 when a clear goal by Frank Lampard was missed by both referee and assistant with the ball yards over the line.

This time Tevez - clearly offside - headed Lionel Messi’s chip into an empty net after keeper Oscar Perez spilled the latter’s through ball.

The big screen in the stadium showed the error but the decision had already been made and the law prevented the referee from chalking off the goal.

Seven minutes later it was 2-0.

With no real danger, defender Ricardo Osorio inexplicably passed straight to Higuain, who rounded Perez to score.

Javier Aguirre’s side rallied, with Salcido forcing a diving stop from Sergio Romero while Hernandez was inches from converting Salcido’s cross.

Argentina were dangerous on the break, though, as Perez saved well from Angel Di Maria while Gonzalo Higuain nodded a Tevez cross wide from six yards out.

There was a half-time scuffle between players and staff from both sides as an aggrieved Mexico went in with a mountain to climb.

Aguirre made a change at the break, bringing winger Pablo Barrera on for the ineffectual Adolfo Bautista.

But they were delivered another hammer blow when, on 53 minutes, Tevez arguably scored the goal of the tournament so far.

The Manchester City striker benefited from a ricochet on the edge of the D and, with options limited, he responded to the challenge by smashing an unstoppable shot into the top right.

Mexico continued to press as Barrera skinned two defenders before firing into the side netting, while Hernandez headed over and was denied by Gabriel Heinze on the line.

Hernandez, who joins United after the World Cup after hitting 21 goals for Chivas Guadalajara last season, pulled one back in style.

Gerardo Torrado slid the ball to the 22-year-old who, with his back to goal, spun off Martin Demichelis with his first touch, pulled wide of Nicolas Otamendi with his second, and rasped a vicious finish into the roof of the net with his third.

It gave Mexico hope but Argentina shut up shop with their only serious danger a far-post cross from Barrera that Heinze nicked away from Marquez.

In the closing stages Messi - quiet for most of he game - almost drove home a fourth after a trademark dribble inside from the right but he was denied by Perez as Argentina qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the sixth time.

Match stats:

Argentina v Mexico

Goals 3-1

1st Half Goals 2-0

Shots on Target 6-5

Shots off Target 3-10

Blocked Shots 3-2

Corners 2-5

Fouls 11-26

Offsides 1-2

Yellow Cards 0-1

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 79%-81.8%

Tackles 24-36

Tackles Success 79.2%-77.8%

Possession 49.7%-50.3%

Territorial Advantage 41.2%-58.8%

Dire England out-classed by Germany

A defensive horror show and a poor refereeing decison in Bloemfontein contributed to a humiliating 4-1 defeat for England as Fabio Capello's side were dumped out of the World Cup and Germany advanced to the quarter-finals.

Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski took advantage of some awful defending to put the Germans into a two-goal lead after 32 minutes before Matthew Upson gave Fabio Capello's side some hope by pulling one back five minutes later.

Frank Lampard had a goal disallowed less than a minute later, despite his lob clearly bouncing over the line via the underside of the bar, prompting furious protestations and no doubt a renewed campaign for the introduction of instant video replay technology.

Lampard struck the woodwork again with a free-kick after the break but a quick-fire brace from Thomas Mueller extinguished any hope England harboured of completing an unlikely comeback.

The defeat was England's heaviest at a World Cup and will prompt doubts over the future of Capello, whose team selection and tactics have been called into question this tournament.

Germany meanwhile, head into the last eight - and a match against either Argentina or Mexico - full of confidence after another excellent performance under intense pressure.

For the first time in nearly three years, Capello named an unchanged side, keeping faith with his central defensive partnership of Upson and John Terry, after the pair helped book England's place in the last 16 in the victory over Slovenia.

But during an action-packed first half, neither player did much to justify their selection as they and the England back line were regularly pulled apart by a fluid, pacy and intelligent German attack.

Pre-match Mesut Ozil had been identified as Germany's dangerman and the Werder Breman man proved as much after just five minutes, getting the wrong side of Ashley Cole before firing on target. Only a sharp save from David James denied Germany a dream start.

But Joachim Loew's side did not have to wait much longer to make a breakthrough, the Upson-Terry partnership showing their fallibility as keeper Manuel Neuer's long goal kick cleared the former's head before the latter allowed Klose to outmuscle him and fire low past James.

It was Klose's 50th international goal, drawing level with the great Gerd Mueller, and he nearly passed the German legend's mark soon after when he was played through following some lovely approach play. Again James had to be at his best to keep him out.

England briefly threatened at the other end, Jermain Defoe hitting the bar with a header - although it would not have counted as the flag was up for offside - before Germany doubled their advantage on 32 minutes.

Again one of the centre-backs was at fault, Terry allowing Mueller to ghost past him out wide before the Bayern Munich midfielder squared to Podolski, who recovered from a poor first touch to fire under James from a tight angle.

England picked themselves up with Upson making amends for his woe at the other end with a soaring header from Gerrard's cross on just five minutes after Podolski's strike.

Just 50 seconds later England were denied an equaliser by an inexplicable error from Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistant, both of whom failed to spot that Lampard's superb lob from the edge of the box had bounced, via the underside of the bar, a yard over the line.

After the break, Lampard rattled the bar at the other end with a long-range free-kick but with England's back line looking so porous, the Germans were always dangerous going forward.

Mueller took full advantage on 67 minutes, Bastian Schweinsteiger leading a break before squaring the ball to his Bayern team-mate to lash past James at his near post.

And when three minutes later Mueller added his second and his team's fourth - a simple tap-in after Gareth Barry had let Ozil breeze past him out wide - Germany's domination over England at major tournaments was confirmed.

The Three Lions have now been knocked out by Germany in their last five meetings at major tournaments.

Match stats

Goals 4-1

1st Half Goals 2-1

Shots on Target 6-7

Shots off Target 7-6

Blocked Shots 4-5

Corners 4-6

Fouls 7-6

Offsides 4-2

Yellow Cards 1-1

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 78.8%-78.2%

Tackles 22-20

Tackles Success 59-170

Possession 44.8%-55.2%

Territorial Advantage 52.6%-47.4%

Ghana stay alive as the USA tumble out

Ghana beat the United States 2-1 after extra-time to keep African interest in the World Cup alive in their last-16 clash in Rustenberg.

Kevin-Prince Boateng put the Black Stars ahead with a solo goal on five minutes but Bob Bradley’s US team fought back to parity thanks to Landon Donovan’s 62nd-minute penalty.

Asamoah Gyan pounced at the start of extra-time to join the tournament top scorers on three for the competition and Ghana held on at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium to qualify for the last eight for the first time in their history.

The United States seemed to start nervously and Ghana exploited their hesitance when a catalogue of errors handed them a fifth-minute opener.

Ricardo Clark - back in the starting line-up at the expense of Maurice Edu - dilly-dallied on halfway and was robbed by Boateng.

The German-born Portsmouth midfielder raced towards goal and, as Jay DeMerit took an age to close him down, the ex-Tottenham player drilled a low shot that beat Tim Howard, slow to get down at his near post.

Ghana threatened to run riot, pegging their opponents back and going close through Asamoah Gyan, whose curler was batted out by Howard, and Samuel Inkoom, who blasted over when the pass inside to Boateng was on.

Just after the half-hour Bob Bradley responded to his team’s mini-crisis by swapping the distraught Clark for the snappier Edu, who immediately brought bite into their midfield.

Robbie Findley spurned a gilt-edged chance to level when Clint Dempsey set the Real Salt Lake forward free: one-on-one, he could only fire straight at Richard Kingson.

The Americans were moving the ball better but they were still vulnerable at the back, with Watford’s DeMerit missing two clearances but spared by the pace of Steve Cherundolo the first time and - when his second error let Kwadwo Asamoah in - the feet of Howard.

Bob Bradley made another change at half-time, mimicking his decision in the Algeria game to bring a striker off for midfielder Benny Feilhaber.

It was Hercules Gomez in that match but this time Findley was replaced in an oddly attacking change: he is a midfielder, but Feilhaber allowed Dempsey and the hitherto quiet Landon Donovan to form a front three.

The impact was immediate as the US suddenly became an attacking menace.

A minute after the restart Feilhaber’s flicked finish was well blocked by Kingson, on 54 minutes a super cross from Donovan skipped inches away from Altidore and Dempsey, seconds after that John Mensah made a goal-saving tackle on Dempsey, and just before the hour mark John Mensah again denied a US goal-scoring opportunity by blocking Feilhaber’s shot from just inside the box.

Two minutes later they got their equaliser, when Dempsey nutmegged John Mensah with an audacious back-heel before drawing a foul from Jonathan Mensah, who was fortunate to stay on the pitch as he was the last man.

Donovan stepped up for the spot-kick and, after a brief delay while he collected his thoughts, the LA Galaxy forward clipped the ball in off the right-hand post to get his third goal in four games at the World Cup - making him another joint top-scorer but surely not for much longer as his team exited the tournament.

Ghana retreated into themselves, with occasional breaks only yielding speculative efforts from Gyan.

The US, meanwhile, were edging closer and closer to a winner, as the coach's son Michael Bradley fired straight at Kingson after being played through by Altidore, who himself poked the ball just wide after a tussle with John Mensah left him off balance.

Ghana rallied in the dying minutes of normal time but Howard was largely untested as the crosses rained wide or were dispatched by DeMerit and Bocanegra.

Extra-time beckoned and, for all the US’s graft in the second half, they went to sleep again to let Ghana back in front.

A straight, long ball was flicked on by Andre Ayew and Gyan somehow held off challenges from Bocanegra and DeMerit before clipping a sweet finish over the advancing Howard.

In typical fashion, the US rallied, as Feilhaber had a low drive deflected just wide and Edu flicked a header beyond the far post as Kingson flapped at Donovan’s corner.

But Ghana had finally slipped back into their early first-half groove, slowing and quickening the tempo at will and effectively controlling the game.

The US appeared to run out of steam and as the second period of extra-time wound down they seemed exhausted, mentally and physically.

There was a last-gasp burst as Howard went up for a corner, DeMerit hooking the loose ball over, but Ghana closed out a win to take them into the last eight for the first time.

Match stats:

USA v Ghana

Goals 1-2

1st Half Goals 0-1

Shots on Target 6-6

Shots off Target 7-8

Blocked Shots 8-2

Corners 5-4

Fouls 11-19

Offsides 1-4

Yellow Cards 3-2

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 75.4%-77.2%

Tackles 19-26

Tackles Success 63.2%-84.6%

Possession 49%-51%

Territorial Advantage 49.3%-50.7%

Suarez sends Uruguay into last eight

Luis Suarez scored both goals as Uruguay reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in 40 years with a 2-1 victory over South Korea in Port Elizabeth.

Suarez gave his side an eighth-minute lead only for Lee Chung-yong to level midway through the second-half in driving rain at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

But the Ajax striker scored a superb winner 10 minutes from time as the South Americans set up a last-eight clash with either the United States or Ghana.

The Koreans had conceded six goals in their last two group games and went to sleep early to allow Suarez to sweep home from close range.

Keeper Jung Sung-ryong came out but failed to collect Diego Forlan's cross from the left and, despite Korea having six men in the penalty, area Suarez was left alone to tap home from a tight angle.

Suarez could have had a first-half hat-trick, an errant offside flag denying him a clean run at goal, while he should have done better when he ghosted between the two central defenders but failed to make decisive contact with his close-range header.

Uruguay also had strong appeals for a penalty rejected when Maximiliano Pereira's shot hit the arm of Ki Sung-yong.

Korea's best chance of the first-half came as early as the fifth minute when Park Chu-young's curling free-kick hit the outside of the post.

Uruguay did not concede a goal in the group stage and were content to sit back and protect their lead after the break.

But they invited pressure and Park Chu-young blasted over when well placed before Fernando Muslera dived full length to his left to save Park Ji-sung's header

Suarez was increasingly isolated in attack and the tactic backfired when Korea equalised from a goalkeeping mistake.

A free-kick from the left was headed into the air and Muslera came off his line to collect but got nowhere near the ball and Bolton's Lee Chung-yong beat the keeper and Diego Lugano to the header and nodded into the empty net.

Lee Chung-yong then should have had his second as he ran straight past Jorge Fucile to collect a through ball only to shoot straight at Muslera.

But Uruguay came out of their shell and Suarez found himself alone eight yards from goal as Fucile hoisted a ball back into the area but he failed to hit the target with his header.

"Salto" made a mess of that chance but his winning goal was sublime as he collected a knock down from a corner, cut inside Kim Jung-woo to work the ball onto his right foot and curled the ball into the corner, off the inside of the post.

Suarez, the Dutch league's top scorer this season with 35 goals, celebrated wildly by jumping over - and possibly on - the heads of the photographers.

Korea did have a golden chance to equalise but substitute Lee Dong-gook, who failed to score in 23 appearances for Middlesbrough, scuffed his first-time shot and, although the ball slipped under the body of Muslera, Lugano was on hand to hack clear.

The final whistle went and Uruguay, who were the last of the 32 teams to book their place in the finals, became the first to reach the quarter-finals.

Match Stats

Uruguay v South Korea

Goals 2-1

1st Half Goals 1-0

Shots on Target 7-4

Shots off Target 4-7

Blocked Shots 3-4

Corners 3-3

Fouls 12-12

Offsides 1-0

Yellow Cards 0-3

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 69.2%-76.1%

Tackles 34-15

Tackles Success 64.7%-86.7%

Possession 40.2%-59.8%

Territorial Advantage 43.4%-56.6%

Spain beat Chile as both progress

Spain claimed top spot in Group H as they beat 10-man Chile 2-1 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria in their make-or-break World Cup clash.

David Villa opened the scoring from long range after 24 minutes and Andres Iniesta added a second 13 minutes later with Marco Estrada sent-off for a foul in the build-up to the goal.

But Rodrigo Millar scored two minutes after the break and, with Switzerland drawing 0-0 with Honduras, Chile progress to a last 16-encounter with Brazil while the European champions will face neighbours Portugal in the second round on Monday evening.

Villa scored from nearly 45 yards after Chile keeper Claudio Bravo needlessly came racing off his line to deal with a long ball and he saw Barcelona's new signing slide the follow-up into the empty net from near the left touchline.

Fit-again midfielder Iniesta then doubled the lead with a calm side-foot into the bottom corner with Villa this time the provider as he pulled the ball back to his new Camp Nou colleague who opened up his body and dispatched the ball past Bravo.

Estrada received a second yellow card for a tangle of legs with Fernando Torres in the build-up to the goal and it looked harsh as Estrada was not even looking at the Liverpool striker at the time.

Referee Marco Rodriguez of Mexico appeared to get that one wrong but Estrada was lucky still to be on the pitch after a tackle from behind on Iniesta after his first caution while Waldo Ponce should also have received a second yellow after treading on the ankle of Xabi Alonso just before the break.

Chile's lack of discipline undermined a bright start and Mark Gonzalez should have given the South Americans the lead following a cross from Jean Beausejour but he lost his footing and shinned his effort wide from close range.

Iker Casillas was also forced to claw an audacious chip from Alexis Sanchez behind for a corner while Gerard Pique did superbly to get a foot in just as Beausejour was about to pull the trigger - moments after the defender had spurned a great chance to make it 2-0 when heading over from close range.

Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa made a double change at half-time and it paid immediate dividends as Millar scored within 120 seconds of entering the action.

His 20-yard chip took a wicked deflection off Pique and looped over Casillas into the net.

At that point Switzerland needed to score twice to deny Chile a place in the next round and the message seemed to transmit to the players as the sting went out of the game.

Spain replaced Torres - who missed two good early chances - with Cesc Fabregas, and he tried to up the tempo while only a superb last-ditch tackle by Waldo Ponce denied Villa a certain goal.

But the last 20 minutes almost resembled a testimonial with Spain delighted to top the group after their surprise 1-0 defeat against Switzerland, while for the first time in history South America will have five teams in the last 16.

However Chile will face Brazil without key defenders Gary Medel and Ponce, plus midfielder Estrada, who are all suspended.

Match Facts

Chile v Spain

Goals 1-2

1st Half Goals 0-2

Shots on Target 2-2

Shots off Target 3-4

Blocked Shots 3-2

Corners 3-4

Fouls 21-13

Offsides 3-1

Yellow Cards 2-0

Red Cards 1-0

Passing Success 71%-86.5%

Tackles 26-19

Tackles Success 88.5%-63.2%

Possession 30.9%-69.1%

Territorial Advantage 50.4%-49.6%

Ivory Coast go out on winning note

Ivory Coast outclassed North Korea 3-0 but came up well short in finding the goals they required to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time.

Sven Goran-Eriksson's side needed Portugal to lose to Brazil while chasing several goals against the North Koreans, who were thumped 7-0 by Portugal in their last Group G outing.

Yaya Toure, the effervescent Romaric and substitute Salomon Kalou were on target in Nelspruit, but could not prevent Ivory Coast - who had 26 attempts at goal - from joining North Korea in exiting the tournament at the first stage.

Group winners Brazil and Portugal played out a 0-0 draw that was enough to see them occupy the top two places in the section.

North Korea have not won any of their last nine international fixtures, losing seven and drawing two, including three defeats in South Africa.

Kalou, Aruna Dindane, Guy Demel and Siaka Tiene dropped to the bench with Ndri Romaric, Gervais Kouassi, Abdelkader Keita and Arthur Boka all starting to enhance their country's attacking options.

The African side wasted little time in setting about their task as Yaya Toure played in Kader Keita on two minutes, but his shot was blocked by the North Korean goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk.

Drogba had the ball in the net on 10 minutes with a header from Keita's cross, but an offside flag saved the Koreans.

They were not so fortunate on 13 minutes as Ivory Coast surged ahead.

Arthur Boka found the towering Yaya Toure on the edge of the box and he passed the ball into a corner of the net.

Ivory Coast have now won all six games in which midfielder Toure has scored.

Ivory Coast were off and running. Romaric hit a post three minutes later before Eriksson's side made it two on 19 minutes.

Boka was again the supplier as he picked out Drogba. The Chelsea striker spun superbly. He cracked a volley off the underside of the bar, but Romaric followed up to head the rebound into the net.

The chances kept on coming for Ivory Coast in a fairly frenetic first-half onslaught. Gervinho should have given them a three-goal lead eight minutes before half-time, but he knocked wide with plenty of the goal to aim at.

Apart from a Hong Yong-Jo free-kick that flew wide, North Korea offered little or no resistance.

The 12 goals they have conceded at these finals all came from inside the box, which suggests their defending is brittle at best.

The second period was a bit of a damp squid as Ivory Coast failed to rediscover the fluency of their play in the opening half.

They continued on the attack, but could only breach the North Koreans once more when Kalou, on for Gervinho after 64 minutes, volleyed into the net from Boka's cross.

Substitute Aruna Dindane's goal was ruled out for offside in the closing minutes, but Ivory Coast hopes of staying in the finals had already vanished.

Match Facts

North Korea v Ivory Coast

Goals 0-3

1st Half Goals 0-2

Shots on Target 4-10

Shots off Target 4-14

Blocked Shots 1-3

Corners 0-7

Fouls 12-16

Offsides 2-4

Yellow Cards 0-0

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 74.8%-89%

Tackles 18-15

Tackles Success 83.3%-66.7%

Possession 34.1%-65.9%

Territorial Advantage 35.8%-64.2%

Portugal through after dour stalemate

Portugal joined Brazil in the second round of the World Cup after a hugely disappointing goalless draw in their final Group G encounter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Brazil, who secured the point they needed to top the group, were unable to break down a defensively strong Portugal side as the match petered out into a stalemate after an ill-tempered first-half saw seven yellow cards.

Portugal, who extended their unbeaten streak to 19 having gone through the group stage without conceding a goal, will face the winners of Group H in the last 16.

Carlos Queiroz signalled his intent by bringing in defenders Duda and Ricardo Costa for forwards Hugo Almeida and Simao Sabrosa with Cristiano Ronaldo isolated in attack.

Brazil forward Robinho was surprisingly left out for the five-times champions, who had already qualified for the second round.

But Brazil still had the two clear cut chances of the opening period.

Luis Fabiano's ball from the right was allowed to run through to Nilmar at the back post but his close-range shot was turned on to the woodwork by Eduardo.

Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano, who scored twice in the 3-1 win over Ivory Coast, headed Maicon's cross just past the post from seven yards.

The first-half saw a flurry of cautions including one for Juan who deliberately handled a long ball intended for Ronaldo just inside his own half.

Portugal were demanding a red card and Duda was booked for protesting; Juan was shown yellow.

The Portuguese were also angry when Tiago was booked for diving in the penalty area after the slightest contact by Gilberto Silva but referee Benito Archundia of Mexico seemed to get that one right.

Tiago had failed to capitalise on Portugal's best move when he sliced his 20-yard volley wide.

Ill feeling began to creep into the game with Pepe booked for a nasty kick down the Achilles' heel of Felipe Melo who seeked retribution, was cautioned and then substituted by Brazil coach Dunga anxious to keep his full quota of players.

Portugal had the better opportunities of the second-half, Ronaldo's shot flicked off Pepe's heel and looped just over Julio Cesar's crossbar before Raul Meireles spurned their best chance.

Ronaldo broke and lacked support but Lucio's sliding tackle diverted the ball across the face of goal and the midfielder could only stab wide from six yards with his right foot.

On the 28th anniversary of when West Germany and Austria played one of the dullest matches in World Cup history, whistles of derision in the crowd started to echo out and Brazil were resigned to shooting from distance before a couple of late chances.

Ramires's shot was going well wide but hit the back of Bruno Alves and Eduardo had to make a vital save to claw the ball away, before Juan gifted the ball to Danny in injury time but Julio Cesar was bravely off his line to smother the shot.

A chorus of boos greeted the final whistle as the game between two of the top three teams in the FIFA world rankings failed to lived up to the billing.

Match Facts

Portugal v Brazil

Goals 0-0

1st Half Goals 0-0

Shots on Target 3-5

Shots off Target 8-7

Blocked Shots 3-7

Corners 4-7

Fouls 11-18

Offsides 2-0

Yellow Cards 4-3

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 77.3%-88.8%

Tackles 32-14

Tackles Success 62.5%-50%

Possession 31.5%-68.5%

Territorial Advantage 38.8%-61.2%

Holders Italy crash out

Holders Italy were sent crashing out of the World Cup after an incredible 3-2 defeat to Slovakia at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Robert Vittek scored either side of the break to give the debutants a 2-0 lead only for Antonio Di Natale to pull a goal back nine minutes from time.

Kamil Kopunek had looked to put the game beyond doubt with a Slovakian third in the final minute only for Fabio Quagliarella to respond almost immediately.

And with the final whistle having gone in Polokwane after a goalless draw between Paraguay and New Zealand, Italy would have reached the last 16 with an equaliser only for Simone Pepe to miss a golden chance deep into injury-time.

Paraguay top Group F ahead of Slovakia while Italy finish bottom of the group behind New Zealand, becoming the fourth World Cup holder to be eliminated at the group stage.

But Marcello Lippi's side are sure to complain about two crucial decisions made by English linesman Darren Cann.

With Italy 1-0 down, he adjudged that Martin Skrtel had prevented the whole ball from crossing the line when he blocked Vincenzo Iaquinta's shot on the line with his knee.

And he denied the Azzuri an equaliser five minutes from time when Quagliarella was adjudged offside after sweeping the ball into the net.

It does not disguise that for the opening hour, Italy were woeful.

It was a sloppy pass from Daniele De Rossi that gave Slovakia the 25th minute lead.

The midfielder gifted the ball away to Juraj Kucka who fed Vittek and the Lille striker produced a slide rule finish into the bottom corner past Federico Marchetti.

It was no more than they deserved as Italy ailed to test Jan Mucha in the first period, indeed the only moment of the concern for the Everton-bound keeper was when Skrtel's header skimmed over the top of his own crossbar.

Lippi made two changes at half-time with Quagliarella coming on and almost immediately Di Natale spurned a great chance from eight yards.

Mucha then flapped at Pepe's cross and Iaquinta smashed a volley towards the goal which was superbly cleared off the line by Skrtel with replays inconclusive, certainly some of the Liverpool defender was behind the line but it was impossible to tell whether the whole ball had crossed the line.

Slovakia were in raptures when they doubled their lead 17 minutes from time. A corner was cleared straight back to Marek Hamsik whose first-time cross was met by Vittek, who got ahead of Giorgio Chiellini at the near post and swept the ball into the net.

But eight minutes later, Italy's World Cup dream flickered again as Di Natale swept the ball into the empty net after Quagliarella was denied by the sprawling Mucha.

Italy thought they were on level terms when Quagliarella stabbed home a cross from the left but the flag was up, the Napoli forward possibly a hair's width in front of the last defender.

And the Italian fans in the crowd were left dumbstruck when they went to sleep from a throw-in which allowed Kopunek to lift the ball over Marchetti with his first touch.

Four minutes of added time were to be played and in the second of those, Quagliarella showed supreme composure to chip the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.

With Slovakian players hitting the deck at regular intervals in an attempt to waste time, English referee Howard Webb played an additional three minutes and in the last of those, a long throw was flicked on and reached Pepe at the back post but he completely shanked his volley wide of the near post from six yards.

It meant Italy failed to successfully negotiate the group phase for the first time since 1974 and for the first time in World Cup history, both the previous finalists from the last tournament fell at the opening stage.

Match Facts

Slovakia v Italy

Goals 3-2

1st Half Goals 1-0

Shots on Target 4-6

Shots off Target 6-7

Blocked Shots 3-3

Corners 6-3

Fouls 20-17

Offsides 1-3

Yellow Cards 4-4

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 74.3%-74.7%

Tackles 20-25

Tackles Success 70%-80%

Possession 48%-52%

Territorial Advantage 51.1%-48.9%

Paraguay win group as Kiwis bow out

Paraguay finished top of Group F and ended unbeaten New Zealand's World Cup hopes after the pair played out a wretched 0-0 draw in Polokwane.

The South American side enjoyed most of the possession and chances, but could not find a way through a stubborn New Zealand defence.

New Zealand ended their tournament unbeaten with three draws, while Paraguay win the section with five points, a point ahead of Slovakia, whose 3-2 win over deposed world champions Italy was enough to claim second place in the section.

The Paraguay keeper Justo Villar did not have to make a save in the 90 minutes.

Paraguay will face the runners-up of Group E, Japan or Denmark , in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Young New Zealand keeper Mark Paston can be proud of his role in helping his country claim their third straight draw of the group stages.

Paraguay had met New Zealand only once before in a friendly in 1995 with the South American side enjoying a 3-2 win.

New Zealand had never kept a clean sheet at the World Cup, but they were buoyed by draws with Slovakia and Italy in their first two games - their only points in the fabled history of the tournament.

The Kiwis were unbeaten in their last five competitive matches stretching back to the Confederations Cup a year ago when they lost 2-0 to South Africa in Polokwane.

The World Cup has witnessed some listless matches over the years, but the first half of this match would get the sport closed down.

To say it was bland, would be too charitable. Paraguay, so inventive and cunning in the 1-1 draw with Italy and a 2-0 defeat of Slovakia, were restricted to overly ambitious shots from distance which flew wide or high.

They got what they came for, but they will surely have to produce a far higher level at the last 16 stage.

Captain Denis Caniza, on his 99th appearance and a fourth World Cup finals, looked like he had a bet on himself to get the first goal as he tried at least four shots at goal which the New Zealand keeper Mark

Paston admired as they sailed away from the target.

Paston's only stop of the opening perdio came from Nelson Valdez on 34 minutes.

The Borussia Dortmund player accepted a neat pass from Roque Santa Cruz, but his 30-yard effort proved to be a simple clasp for Paston.

With Ryan Nelsen thriving at the heart of a three-man defence, New Zealand were the happier side at the half-time break. They knewthat one goal could possibly carry them through with Italy trailing 1-0 to Slovakia in the other group game.

Paston had only made two saves by the hour mark, but he was up to the task when called upon in 75 minutes.

He made a fine diving stop to deny Edgar Benitez's header on 75 minutes. Barrios almost followed up, but New Zealand survived.

New Zealand were rarely seen as an attacking force, but Paston helped ensure his team their third point of the group when he beat out a Roque Santa Crux free-kick 11 minutes from the end.

Match Stats

Paraguay v New Zealand

Goals -0

1st Half Goals 0-0

Shots on Target 4-0

Shots off Target 10-3

Blocked Shots 3-1

Corners 2-0

Fouls 12-19

Offsides 1-2

Yellow Cards 2-1

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 79.5%-65.1%

Tackles 20-22

Tackles Success 75%-77.3%

Possession 65.7%-34.3%

Territorial Advantage 52.6%-47.4%

Germany set up England clash

Germany set up a mouth-watering World Cup second-round clash with England as they beat Ghana 1-0 in Johannesburg to secure top spot in Group D.

Mesut Ozil scored the only goal of the game on the hour to ensure a meeting against Fabio Capello's side in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

The Black Stars also reached the last 16, edging out Australia on goal difference, and they will face the United States on Saturday.

Germany, who made a stunning start to the competition with a 4-0 victory over Australia in Durban but then suffered a 1-0 loss to Serbia, needed a win at Soccer City to be certain of a last-16 place and it came via a stunning strike from the Werder Bremen playmaker.

He was afforded enough time to pick his spot and Ozil smashed a 20-yard shot into the top corner past the diving Richard Kingson.

The first-half was an end-to-end affair and there was a real moment of controversy as Philip Lahm stopped Asamoah Gyan's header on the line with what appeared to be a combination of chest and arm.

There were few appeals from the Ghana players towards Brazilian referee Carlos Simon and the incident came moments after Germany had spurned a golden chance to take the lead.

Ozil sprung the offside trap but Black Stars keeper Kingson was off his line to smother the shot with his legs.

Kingson had earlier made another good save at his near post after Jonathan Mensah inadvertently deflected Lukas Podolski's cross towards his goal and the former Wigan keeper was also called into action to save an effort from Cacau before pushing away a Bastian Schweinsteiger free-kick that evaded a posse of players in the penalty box.

At the other end, Schweinsteiger made a vital interception just as Dede Ayew was about to pull the trigger and only a superb clearance from Arne Friedrich prevented Kwadwo Asamoah's cross from the left reaching Gyan.

Ayew then tricked Jerome Boateng but Kevin-Prince Boateng could only make a glancing contact with his head from the cross.

It was the first time brothers had ever been on opposing sides at the World Cup finals. Kevin-Prince, who won junior caps for Germany, facing younger brother Jerome.

Ghana had another great chance after the break when a goal kick down the middle was flicked on but Asamoah failed to make clean contact and was denied by Manuel Neuer.

Ghana made an instant response to Ozil's goal but Prince Tagoe's header at the back post was blocked by Boateng before a wonderful saving tackle from Lahm deflected Ayew's shot over the crossbar.

The game petered out in the closing stages with Ghana knowing that one further Serbia goal in Nelspruit would all but certainly deny Africa a team in the knockout stages.

But that goal never came and they get to face the US in Rustenburg while Germany will face old rivals England a day later.

Match Stats

Ghana v Germany

Goals 0-1

1st Half Goals 0-0

Shots on Target 3-5

Shots off Target 7-5

Blocked Shots 7-4

Corners 4-7

Fouls 11-5

Offsides 3-4

Yellow Cards 1-1

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 79.2%-83.2%

Tackles 16-19

Tackles Success 75%-89.5%

Possession 40%-60%

Territorial Advantage 46.4%-53.6%

Australia and Serbia tumble out

Australia overcame Serbia 2-1 in Nelspruit, but it was a result that ultimately proved meaningless as both teams suffered the pain of World Cup elimination.

Group winners Germany beat Ghana 1-0 in the other Group D game, but the African side progress to the last 16 despite the defeat.

Serbia should have been ahead at half-time. Milos Krasic wasted their best chance when he knocked over an open goal in the first half after rounding goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

That came back to haunt the European side in the second period as Australia took control.

Tim Cahill gave them the lead with a glorious header from 12 yards on 69 minutes before substitute Brett Holman, on for Mark Bresciano on 66 minutes, smashed a shot into the corner of the net from 25 yards.

Serbian substitute Marko Pantelic pulled one back for Serbia from close range on 84 minutes and despite some frantic late attacks which saw the Serbians have an effort disallowed for offside, a penalty claim waved away by Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda and Pantelic miss a gilt-edged chance, Australia held on for a win that will at least give them some comfort on the flight home.

Serbia and Australia had never met before this encounter, but it will be Serbia who will probably feel sorer when they reflect upon this campaign.

They beat Germany 1-0 and had plenty of opportunities to carve out a lead against Pim Verbeek's side.

Serbia enjoyed enough possession to wreak havoc, but noticeably lacked a cutting edge.

Krasic saw an effort beaten away by Schwarzer on five minutes. He should have given his side the lead they craved seven minutes later.

The striker dashed clear of the Australian defence and was past Fulham keeper Schwarzer, but rushed his shot and blazed over from an angle that was hardly acute.

Schwarzer was called into action on 22 minutes as Branislav Ivanovic darted into the Australian box, but the keeper made a breathtaking, solid one-handed stop.

Nikola Zigic then blew a glaring opportunity as he sent a free header past the post.

Australia's best contribution of the first half was a Cahill header, but the Everton player would soon show off his celebrated ability in the air.

There appeared little danger as a ball arrived in the heart of the Serbian area, but Cahill rose higher than Nemanja Vidic to plant Brett Emerton's cross into the corner of the net from the penalty spot.

The Australian fans were in a party mood and they welcomed in a second minutes later when Holman, who scored against Ghana in a 1-1 draw, scampered clear to send a shot low spinning past the diving Serbian keeper Vladimir Stojkovic from 25 yards.

A lovely dipping shot from distance by Zoran Tosic was spilled by Schwarzer and Pantelic followed in to score on 84 minutes to breathe new life into the group.

Serbia were suddenly back in the hunt. Pantelic had a goal marginally ruled out for offside and Cahill appeared to handle the ball in the box before an unmarked Pantelic sent what should have been an easy tap-in over the bar.

Larrionda was surrounded by angry Serbian players and coach Radomir Antic after he blew the final whistle as they missed out on the second round.

Match Stats

Australia v Serbia

Goals 2-1

1st Half Goals 0-0

Shots on Target 7-6

Shots off Target 6-12

Blocked Shots 6-4

Corners 5-6

Fouls 24-10

Offsides 1-7

Yellow Cards 3-2

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 78.4%-88.7%

Tackles 18-10

Tackles Success 72.2%-60%

Possession 42.2%-57.8%

Territorial Advantage 45.1%-54.9%

England win to stay alive

England reached the second round of the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Slovenia in their make-or-break encounter at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Jermain Defoe scored the only goal of the game after 23 minutes.

The United States' injury-time winner against Algeria means that Fabio Capello's side finish second in Group C and will face Germany in the second round on Sunday, while Slovenia are eliminated.

After days of speculation, Capello kept faith with a 4-4-2 formation with James Milner, who started the opening game against the United States on the left flank, recalled on the right side of midfield in place of Aaron Lennon and Defoe replacing Emile Heskey.

And it was the two who combined for the vital goal. A superb cross from the right was met by Defoe who volleyed into the roof of the net from close range.

Slovenia keeper Samir Handanovic was beaten for pace as the Tottenham striker nipped in ahead of Marko Suler from seven yards.

England survived a tense finale to reach the last 16 although Landon Donovan's winner in Pretoria means that Sunday afternoon's clash in Bloemfontein will be against the winners of Group D and that could be Germany.

England had been threatening before the goal. Frank Lampard's long-range effort was held by Handanovic, Wayne Rooney's shot was deflected behind for a corner, John Terry headed a corner at the near post wide and Glen Johnson's long-range effort was well held.

And England, who had a tentative start, then visibly grew in confidence after Defoe's 12th international goal.

Another superb Milner cross was pushed out by Handanovic but Lampard failed to hit the target with his follow-up from 18 yards.

The Udinese shot stopper then made a double save, repelling Defoe's fiercely struck drive before Steven Gerrard's sidefooted effort destined for the bottom corner was stopped, although the ball nearly trickled under Handanovic's arm.

Defoe had a golden chance to add a second shortly after the interval, Lampard sending Handanovic's punch back towards goal and the goal scorer flicking his effort about a foot wide when unmarked from six yards.

Defoe, included in England's starting line-up for the first time since the opening competitive match of Capello's reign, then had a goal ruled out after a marginal offside decision against Rooney before Handanovic produced another great save to keep out Terry's powerful header at the near post.

And then Rooney came agonisingly close to breaking his eight-match international goal drought when he brought down Lampard's through ball only to see his shot tipped against the upright.

The Manchester United star also unleashed a long-range drive straight down the throat of Handanovic and a goalbound header was deflected for a corner.

But nerves began to creep in and Slovenia threatened.

David James had largely been called into action to claim long-range efforts from Valter Birsa but he was thankful for Terry who dived full length to repel Milivoje Novakovic's effort before Johnson got in the way of Zlatko Dedic's shot and finally Robert Koren dragged his shot wide.

Joe Cole replaced Rooney with 18 minutes remaining with England still knowing that a Slovenia equaliser would knock them out at the group stage for the first time since 1958.

And only a superb sliding tackle from Matthew Upson denied Slovenia sub Tim Matavz a clean sight of goal in the final minute.

But England held on and, after all the drama of the week, can now look forward to a last-16 encounter against their historic rivals in Bloemfontein.

Match Stats

Slovenia v England

Goals 0-1

1st Half Goals 0-1

Shots on Target 3-8

Shots off Target 4-4

Blocked Shots 4-2

Corners 2-11

Fouls 19-20

Offsides 1-1

Yellow Cards 3-1

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 64.7%-76.5%

Tackles 18-14

Tackles Success 83.3%-71.4%

Possession 38.8%-61.2%

Territorial Advantage 44.1%-55.9%

USA win group after late Donovan goal

Landon Donovan struck a dramatic injury-time winner as the USA beat Algeria 1-0 in Pretoria to top Group C.

Donovan slammed a loose ball into the net from close range after the outstanding Algerian goalkeeper Rais Ouheb M'Bolhi failed to hold Jozy Altidore's cross.

Clint Dempsey had a goal wrongly ruled offside in the first half and hit a post in the second period, but the USA kept pushing and were rewarded deep into injury time by Donovan's strike.

The USA and England go through from Group C, but Bob Bradley's side win the group on goals scored.

USA and Algeria had never met before in international climes.

The Americans thumped Egypt 3-0 in the Confederations Cup in June 2009. That was the last time they faced an African team in a competitive match, but this was more important.

How the first period remained goalless was a mystery.

USA were fortunate not to fall behind on six minutes when Rafik Djebbour hit the bar with a volley from inside the area.

The American response was instant as Hercules Gomez let fly from distance. The ball dipped and swerved, but M'Bolhi did well to nudge it past a post.

Dempsey had the ball in the net from Gomez's cross on 25 minutes, but he was strangely ruled offside when the Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra was clearly playing him on.

A similar decision deprived the US a late winner against Slovenia in their previous group match, but they only had themselves to blame on 36 minutes.

A minute after M'Bohli produced a brave stop to halt a Dempsey toepoke, Donovan managed to chip the ball over the Algeria keeper.

Altidore looked poised to pop the ball in the net, but rushed his volley to wallop yards over with the goal gaping.

England and Slovenia were heading through as the table stood at half-time with the US and Algeria occupying the bottom two spots in the group.

USA needed a goal and they launched a ferocious attack on the Algerian goal as the African side became restricted to counter attacks.

Altidore played in Dempsey on 56 minutes, who hit the inside of a post before knocking the rebound wide.

With the Algerian keeper M'Bohli in exceptional form, it looked like time would run out for USA until Donovan struck and sent the American fans into raptures of delight.

Algeria were reduced to 10 men with seconds left when Antar Yahia was sent off for a second yellow having clearly lost his discipline, but Algeria's position as the bottom team in Group C had already been decided.

It was the first time the USA had kept a clean sheet in 18 first-round matches, a run that stretched back to a 1-0 win over England in 1950.

Match Stats

USA v Algeria

Goals 1-0

1st Half Goals 0-0

Shots on Target 8-3

Shots off Target 11-13

Blocked Shots 1-3

Corners 4-6

Fouls 10-21

Offsides 2-4

Yellow Cards 2-2

Red Cards 0-1

Passing Success 78.6%-78.6%

Tackles 14-14

Tackles Success 78.6%-78.6%

Possession 53.7%-46.3%

Territorial Advantage 53.7%-46.3%

South Korea draw to reach last 16

South Korea benefited from some wasteful Nigeria finishing in a 2-2 draw that allowed the Asian side to reach the last 16 as runners-up in Group B.

The South Koreans fell behind to Kalu Uche's 12th minute opener in Durban, but recovered strongly courtesy of Lee-Jung Soo's 38th minute effort and a Park Chu-Young free-kick on 49 minutes.

Nigeria equalised when Yakubu rolled in a penalty on 69 minutes after substitute Kim Nam-Il's crude foul on Chinedu Obasi, but the match will be remembered for two glaring Nigerian misses.

Yakubu should have equalised on 65 minutes when he missed an open goal from two yards out, while substitute Obafemi Martins chipped wide with the goal at his mercy 10 minutes from time.

Group winners Argentina face Mexico on Sunday. South Korea take on Group A winners Uruguay on Saturday.

South Korea knew they would progress with a draw and an Argentina win over Greece. They got there in the end, but only courtesy of Nigeria's shoddy defending and finishing.

The Asians began the brighter side with Bolton's Lee Chung-Yong unlucky to poke past a post on two minutes.

Some adventurous play by Ki Sung-Yong saw the young Celtic midfielder rattle one over before Nigeria struck on 11 minutes.

Chidi Odiah raced down the right and Uche steamed in to convert. It was bad defending by South Korea with Cha Du-Ri guilty of ball-watching.

Uche almost netted his third goal of the finals on 36 minutes when a 30-yard howitzer hit the left-hand post of the South Korean goal.

The Asian side restored parity seven minutes before the interval as Ki Sung-Yong's free-kick allowed Lee Jung-Soo to score at the back post.

He missed the header, but the ball went in off a thigh as Nigeria's defenders were left marking fresh air.

The night got better for South Korea 10 minutes after the interval when Park Chu-Young planted a free-kick into a corner from outside the box after Danny Shittu had hauled down the South Korean goalscorer.

Yakubu was guilty of blowing Nigeria's best chance of the finals with a miss that will be remembered long after the dust settles.

Youssouf Ayila sped into the Korean box and fed the bustling striker, but he somehow contrived to prod wide of an open goal.

Yakubu's penalty gave Nigeria fresh hope, but Martins contrived to extinguish it seconds after Shittu almost deflected Cha Du-Ri's cross into the net.

The former Newcastle striker bundled his way in on goal, managed to lift the ball over the South Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong, but sent it wide of the target as Nigeria became the latest African side to suffer an agonising early exit.

Match Facts

South Korea v Nigeria

Goals 2-2

1st Half Goals 1-1

Shots on Target 3-8

Shots off Target 8-7

Blocked Shots 0-1

Corners 1-7

Fouls 22-12

Offsides 1-2

Yellow Cards 3-1

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 76%-78.1%

Tackles 15-19

Tackles Success 100%-57.9%

Possession 46.1%-53.9%

Territorial Advantage 47.4%-52.6%

Argentina send Greece home

Argentina sealed top spot in Group B and sent Greece crashing out of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

It took the tournament favourites 77 minutes to break down Otto Rehhagel's side who despite needing a point to have any chance of progressing were more intent on stifling their opponents.

The deadlock was broken as Martin Demichelis smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

The defender rose highest at a corner only for his first header to hit Diego Milito but he was in the right place to smash the rebound past Alexandros Tzorvas.

And substitute Martin Palermo added a second a minute from time after Lionel Messi skipped through the Greek defence.

Coach Diego Maradona made seven changes to the side that beat South Korea 4-1 five days ago with his side's progression to the last 16 all but secure.

Messi became Argentina's youngest World Cup captain as he led his country for the first time two days before his 23rd birthday but he was followed doggedly by man marker Socratis Papastathopoulos until coming alive in the closing stages.

Tzorvas made four decent first-half saves to keep Argentina at bay.

The Panathinaikos keeper turned Sergio Aguero's effort around the post after a lovely run and then tipped Juan Sebastian Veron's piledriver from distance over the top.

He also repelled a Maxi Rodriguez effort and pushed a Messi curler over the crossbar.

Tzorvas did make one mistake when he fumbled a cross but Aguero's goalbound shot was blocked by Loukas Vyntra.

It took 48 minutes for Greece to carve out a chance and it was a golden one. Georgios Samaras pulled off Demichelis and saw his first shot blocked by Nicolas Burdisso but it rebounded back to the Celtic frontman who pulled his second effort marginally past the far post.

Clemente Rodriguez had a 20-yard effort whistle wide but despite needing to score twice, Greece continued to keep men behind the ball and leave Samaras an isolated figure up front.

The sort of anti-football that became Greece's trademark in Euro 2004 continued to frustrate their opponents, Tzorvas pushing a Messi free-kick behind before holding Mario Bolatti's crisp half-volley.

But Greece have failed to keep a clean sheet in 2010 and they were undone as Demichelis netted just his second international goal.

With Messi finally released from his shackles, he began to shine, dancing past two players before unleashing a shot that came back off the inside of the post.

And he was the creator for Argentina's second as he beat two men and, although his first shot was saved by Tsorvas, 36-year-old Palermo was on hand to sidefoot home the rebound.

Palermo, who scored a crucial goal in qualifying against Peru after being overlooked by his country for 10 years, netted just nine minutes after coming on and Argentina can now look forward to a second round clash against Mexico on Sunday while Greece go home with a whimper.

Match Facts

Greece v Argentina

Goals 0-2

1st Half Goals 0-0

Shots on Target 3-10

Shots off Target 3-4

Blocked Shots 1-8

Corners 1-10

Fouls 15-8

Offsides 0-2

Yellow Cards 1-1

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 67.4%-91.1%

Tackles 26-17

Tackles Success 80.8%-82.4%

Possession 18.8%-81.2%

Territorial Advantage 39.6%-60.4%

Mexico and Uruguay progress

Uruguay beat Mexico 1-0 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg as both sides went through to the second round of the World Cup.

Luis Suarez scored the only goal of the game after 43 minutes as Uruguay topped Group A.

But Mexico also progressed to the last 16 courtesy of a superior goal difference to hosts South Africa, who beat France 2-1, and will face Group B table-toppers, probably Argentina, in the second round.

Both teams were certain of qualifying if they drew the encounter but any talk of a preordained stalemate was soon quashed after a lively opening.

Suarez capitalised on a mistake by Francisco Rodriguez but his shot drifted past the far post while Diego Forlan's corner was met by the stooping Mauricio Victorino but the unmarked defender was unable to keep his header down.

Alvaro Pereira then went clean through on goal only to screw his shot wide of the near post with Forlan screaming for a square pass.

Mexico did come close to breaking the deadlock when Andres Guardado unleashed a 35-yard thunderbolt which came off the underside of the crossbar and a vital saving tackle by Jorge Fucile denied Giovani Dos Santos just he was about to pull the trigger.

Uruguay did go ahead when a delicious cross from the right by Edinson Cavani was met by the unmarked Suarez who beat Oscar Perez at the near post with his close-range header.

With South Africa two up at the break, the large Mexican contingent had a nervous half-time, knowing that a further two goal swing would see them eliminated in the group phase for the first time since 1978.

They had more cause for concern after a superb save, diving low to his right, by Perez to push away Diego Lugano's header.

Manchester United new boy Javier Hernandez replaced veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco midway through the second-half and immediately produced a superb pass to put Giovani through but again a superb saving tackle from Fucile denied him.

But Mexico should have been on level terms only for Rodriguez to conjure up one of the misses of the tournament.

Pablo Barrera curled a delightful cross from the right only for the defender to head wide when unmarked in the middle of the goal from six yards.

The game petered out in the final stages although Perez had to scramble across his goal to push Cavani's long-range dipper around the post.

Uruguay joined an elite group of teams who have not conceded a goal in the group phase of the World Cup and they will fancy their chances in a likely last-16 encounter with Greece or South Korea.

Meanwhile Mexico, as runners-up, are likely faced with a rematch against Argentina, who ousted them in the last 16 in 2006.

Match Facts

Mexico v Uruguay

Goals 0-1

1st Half Goals 0-1

Shots on Target 1-5

Shots off Target 6-9

Blocked Shots 3-1

Corners 6-7

Fouls 19-13

Offsides 2-0

Yellow Cards 2-1

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 84.7%-72.7%

Tackles 18-14

Tackles Success 83.3%-71.4%

Possession 67.5%-32.5%

Territorial Advantage 51%-49%

South Africa and France crash out

South Africa downed 10-man France 2-1 in Bloemfontein but it was not enough to prevent Carlos Alberto Parreira's side from becoming the first host nation to crash out of the World Cup finals at the opening group stage.

First-half goals from Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela and a controversial red card for Yoan Gourcuff gave South Africa unlikely hope of reaching the last 16, especially with Uruguay beating Mexico 1-0 in the other Group A game

The home fans tried to inspire them to add to their tally, but their hopes were dashed when French substitute Florent Malouda converted Franck Ribery's pass on 70 minutes.

Mexico and Uruguay progress from the section with South Africa and France eliminated.

The French head home without winning a game at the tournament only four years after they lost to Italy on penalties in the final.

France made six changes with captain Patrice Evra left out.

The radical overhaul came after coach Raymond Domenech suggested several players might not wish to play in the wake of Sunday's training ground strike and the sending home of Nicolas Anelka for disciplinary reasons.

France actually enjoyed the brighter moments in the opening 15 minutes before they were left looking ashen-faced as the home side struck with their first real foray forward on 19 minutes.

Siphiwe Tshabalala swung in a corner and Khumalo rose unmarked to head home. It was a personal disaster for the French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris who missed the ball, but their day would soon get worse six minutes later.

Gourcuff attempted a header in the heart of the South African box, but was inexplicably sent off by Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz for an elbow on MacBeth Sibaya.

It was a bizarre decision as he was clearly attempting to head the ball, but such moments seem to be commonplace in these finals.

South Africa did not waste any time in making their one-man advantage count.

The French were guilty of some more wretched defending as Mphela bundled home Tshabalala's cross from close range on 37 minutes.

The French manager Domenech looked completely stunned as his side continued to unravel and only an offside flag denied Mphela a second of the day seconds later.

Moeneeb Josephs pulled off a fine save to deny William Gallas from Ribery's free-kick, but Lloris was equally athletic at the other end to tip a raking Mphela 25 yarder past a post.

South Africa were further buoyed when news of Uruguay's opening goal against Mexico filtered through. One more goal from the hosts and Uruguay would be enough for Bafana Bafana and they came out for the second period in a buoyant mood.

M'Phela continued to carry their greatest hope as he hit the post on 51 minutes before Lloris swatted out his effort from distance on 57 minutes, but they began to visibly wilt.

France introduced Thierry Henry for Djibril Cisse and they finally ended a tiring home side's hopes when Malouda tucked into an empty net with 20 minutes left.

It was only South Africa's second win at a World Cup finals. They can leave with a sense of pride, unlike France who have now gone seven games without a win at a major tournament.

Match Facts

France v South Africa

Goals 1-2

1st Half Goals 0-2

Shots on Target 3-8

Shots off Target 5-10

Blocked Shots 0-3

Corners 3-5

Fouls 10-12

Offsides 5-3

Yellow Cards 1-0

Red Cards 1-0

Passing Success 83.1%-84.9%

Tackles 14-15

Tackles Success 71.4%-66.7%

Possession 44.1%-55.9%

Territorial Advantage 43.6%-56.4%

Kaka sees red as Brazil reach last 16

Luis Fabiano scored twice and Kaka was controversially sent off as Brazil became the second side to qualify for the last 16 with a comfortable 3-1 win over Ivory Coast in Group G.

Kaka supplied Fabiano to hammer in the opener from an acute angle on 25 minutes. The Sevilla striker made it two on 50 minutes with a volley from the edge of the box after eluding three opposing players.

Fabiano was fortunate to avoid being penalised for handling before he scored, but there was no doubt about the quality of the goal.

There was certainly no question marks over the third goal as Kaka supplied Elano to finish with an exquisite finish in the box on 62 minutes.

Elano was carted off two minutes later after a late tackle by Cheik Tiote, which should have produced a straight red card as the Ivory Coast man clearly used his studs in a stamping motion on the Brazilian's shin.

All hell seemed to break loose in the death throes of a match witnessed by over 80,000 fans inside Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Kaka, booked minutes earlier for pushing the Galatasaray midfielder Kader Keita, was sent off on 87 minutes after another minor collision with Keita.

The Ivory Coast player invoked memories of Rivaldo's notorious piece of theatre during the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea when the former Brazil player was guilty of a similar piece of animation.

Keita feigned injury and collapsed holding his face when the Real Madrid player only brushed his chest with an elbow.

Didier Drogba's deft 79th-minute header proved to be a small consolation for an outclassed Ivory Coast, who must beat North Korea in their final group match to retain any interest in the finals.

Brazil had never lost at the World Cup finals to a side outside of Europe or South America and they were never under genuine threat during a fairly droll first half.

After a feverish rendition of the respective national anthems, the opening 45 minutes was notable only for its lack of genuine flair.

Robinho managed to uncork the first shot on goal after only two minutes when he hammered the ball in from 25 yards, but it dipped narrowly over.

Despite failing to gain real control of the match, Brazil managed to move ahead with their best, and perhaps only real attacking move of note of the opening period.

Kaka managed to evade the Ivory Coast defence to play in Fabiano. He wasted little time in looking up before smashing the ball high into the net with the Ivory Coast keeper Boubacar Barry grasping at fresh air.

It was a brilliant finish from such an acute angle, but the match continued to struggle onwards.

Ivory Coast tried to restore parity, but they failed to gain any real momentum with Didier Drogba struggling to make any real impact before his late goal boosted the Ivory Coast's goal difference if nothing else.

Tiny New Zealand defy world champions Italy

Minnows New Zealand stunned Italy as the defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group F clash at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Italy were rocked when Shane Smeltz gave New Zealand a controversial early lead but Vincenzo Iaquinta equalised from the penalty spot after 29 minutes.

An Azzuri onslaught followed but the All Whites, marshalled superbly by their captain Ryan Nelsen, held firm to produce one of the most surprising results in World Cup history.

Despite having 17 shots to New Zealand's three and having all 15 corners in the match, Italy could not find a way past the team ranked 78th in the world.

Italy went behind after seven minutes when Smeltz gave New Zealand a shock lead.

The former AFC Wimbledon and Halifax striker was clearly in an offside position when Winston Reid flicked on Simon Elliot's deep free-kick into the penalty area but he cared little as the ball bounced off the thigh of Fabio Cannavaro, allowing Smeltz to poke past static Italian reserve keeper Federico Marchetti from close range.

The Azzuri predictably then laid siege to the Kiwi goal.

Giorgio Chiellini spurned a golden chance when a corner bounced off Cannavaro and into his path but his attempted dink into the corner drifted wide from eight yards and Gianluca Zambrotta's sweet drive from distance was not too far over with New Zealand keeper Mark Paston beaten.

Riccardo Montolivo's 25-yard drive hit the inside of the post and bounced to safety before referee Carlos Batres from Guatemala awarded Italy a penalty after young Ipswich defender Tommy Smith tugged the jersey of Daniele De Rossi.

Iaquinta calmly sent Paston the wrong way to put the world champions on level terms and they immediately pressed for a second as a fierce long-range strike from De Rossi was fumbled by Paston.

Coach Marcello Lippi made a double change at half-time with Antonio Di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi coming on and soon Paston pushed away a great strike from an acute angle from the former.

But for all of their territorial dominance, Italy struggled to carve out clear cut chances and they were given a scare as Ivan Vicelich whistled a volley past the post. The 64th minute effort being New Zealand's first since the goal.

Paston then made a fine save to turn away Montolivo's thunderbolt from 25 yards but incredibly it was the Kiwis who came closest to a winner as sub Chris Wood flicked the ball past veteran Cannavaro and the West Brom teenager saw his diagonal drive fly narrowly past the far post.

Camoranesi saw a blast from distance pushed behind by Wellington Phoenix custodian Paston, diving away to his left, as the All Whites continued to resist.

And man-of-the-match Nelsen saved his best for last as he made a crucial block after Zambrotta cut inside Smith and unleashed a goalbound shot from close range.

New Zealand celebrated wildly at the final whistle and although Italy remain winless in five successive matches for the first time since 1997, they will still reach the second round with victory over Slovakia on Thursday.

Match Facts

Italy v New Zealand

Goals 1-1

1st Half Goals 1-1

Shots on Target 5-1

Shots off Target 12-2

Blocked Shots 6-0

Corners 15-0

Fouls 12-24

Offsides 1-2

Yellow Cards 0-3

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 82.5%-66.4%

Tackles 13-14

Tackles Success 76.9%-57.1%

Possession 71.6%-28.4%

Territorial Advantage 61.9%-38.1%