Spain win World Cup after Iniesta's extra-time goal: Final Match Highlights.
Spain won the World Cup for the first time as an extra-time goal from Andres Iniesta gave them a last-gasp victory over the Netherlands in the final at Soccer City on Sunday night.
A game littered with no less than 13 yellow cards and one red was settled by a moment of magic by the Barcelona midfielder after being played in by substitute Cesc Fabregas.
His 116th minute strike was the goal all Spain and most neutrals were waiting for to spare both sides the agony of penalties.
The Dutch were down to 10 men after John Heitinga was shown red in the second half of extra time by referee Howard Webb for a foul on Iniesta.
What a joy especially when you see how we won it
--Andres Iniesta
"What a joy especially when you see how we won it.
"There aren't the words to describe what I am feeling. After my goal, I thought about my family and all the people who I love. But the victory is the fruit of a lot of work."
For the Spanish joy, but for the Dutch desolation as they were left to rue a pair of second half chances which fell to Arjen Robben.
The flying winger was sent clear by Wesley Sneijder, only to be denied by a superb save from Spain captain Iker Casillas, who stuck out a leg to send it wide.
Late in normal time he was also through and appeared to be pulled back by Spain defender Carles Puyol before Casillas saved at his feet.
Spain also had great chances in the second half with David Villa denied by the legs of Heitinga and Sergio Ramos heading over with the goal at his mercy.
In extra-time, Spain pressed forward with yet more urgency and Fabregas was put through by Iniesta only for Stekelenburg to deny him with a smart save.
With the game opening up, Joris Mathijsen was nearly an unlikely scorer for the Dutch while Spain substitute Jesus Navas saw his shot deflected into the side netting.
But in the second half of extra-time the goal chances dried up until Iniesta cropped up to score the winner.
Substitute Fernando Torres, who later pulled up in agony clutching his hamstring, played in the initial ball.
It was poorly cleared, falling to Fabregas, who sent a neat pass through to his teammate, who had cleverly stayed onside.
The Dutch angrily protested Webb should have awarded an earlier foul, but he waved the protests away and was soon signaling the
end of an eventful but hardly memorable final, marred by persistent fouling which broke up the natural rhythm of the game.
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