JOHANNESBURG - The first foul of the 2010 World Cup final was committed by a spectator who ran onto the field Sunday night and tried to grab the golden World Cup trophy before the match. Security guards tackled the man and carried him off the field.
Almost three hours later - in the 116th minute of hard-tackling, bad-tempered soccer that produced a record 14 yellow cards - Spain grabbed that trophy for the first time in history, beating the Netherlands 1-0 on an extra-time goal by midfielder Andres Iniesta, one of the smallest but most exquisite passers on the field.
The Dutch were down to 10 men, and the ugly game was grinding its way down to a penalty-kick shootout when substitute Cesc Fabregas found Iniesta free on the right side in the 116th minute, and the Barcelona magician they call El Ilusionista gave it one touch and then volleyed it 8 yards past the outstretched arms of Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. The goal spared the 84,490 fans at Soccer City and the estimated TV audience of 700 million a shootout.
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"I simply made a small contribution in a match that was very tough, very rough," Iniesta said. "All sorts of things were happening on the pitch. Spain deserved to win this world championship. It's something we will always remember."
Despite an impressive pedigree of world-class players, this was Spain's first World Cup final. La Furia Roja, as the Spanish team is known, entered this tournament as co-favorites with Brazil after winning the 2008 European championship. Spain started slowly, with a shocking 1-0 loss to Switzerland, but eventually found its stylish passing game and reached Sunday's final.
Spain's opponent was formidable. The Dutch were riding a 25-match unbeaten streak. They won all eight qualifiers and all six matches here, and their orange army of fans was hoping they finally would be able to celebrate their first World Cup title after losing in the 1974 and 1978 finals.
The evening began with a lively musical closing ceremony and an appearance by civil rights icon and former South African president Nelson Mandela. One week shy of his 92nd birthday, the frail leader rode onto the field in a golf cart with his wife, Graca Machel.
Fifteen African heads of state were in attendance, as were Queen Sofia of Spain and Jan Peter Balkenende, the prime minister of the Netherlands.
Other celebrities included Placido Domingo, Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal and actors Morgan Freeman and Charlize Theron.
The red-and-orange party started early in the afternoon, as thousands of fans of both teams gathered at Nelson Mandela Square and serenaded each other with light-hearted digs. It was a festive atmosphere, as Dutch and Spanish fans danced arm-in-arm.
There was no such camaraderie between the teams when play began. It was clear that the Dutch plan was to thwart the silky-passing Spaniards with muscle and not let them find a rhythm. English referee Howard Webb pulled out his first yellow card in the 11th minute for Dutch forward Robin Van Persie, and by the 25th minute, five players had been booked.
The fouls continued, and the stop-and-go match never found a flow. Fans expected quality soccer from the two talented teams, but instead got 120 minutes of bruising. When it was over, nine Dutch players and five Spaniards had been carded. Dutch defender John Heitinga was ejected with a second yellow in the 109th minute. Angry Dutch players surrounded Webb after the match, but their complaints didn't help.
"They have made it very difficult for us to play comfortably," said Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque, who was tossed in the air by his players. "It was a very intense match."
Spain had the better chances as the game went on, with Sergio Ramos hitting a header over the bar in the 77th minute. The Dutch had a great opportunity in the 62nd minute, when Wesley Sneijder split the Spanish defense and put the ball into the path of Arjen Robben, who blasted a shot that goalkeeper Iker Casillas blocked with his feet.
reaching the top
1stWorld Cup for Spain, which previously held the record for most victories without a title (24). The Netherlands now holds that record with 19.
World champions
2010-Spain
2006-Italy
2002-Brazil
1998-France
1994-Brazil
1990-West Germany
1986-Argentina
1982-Italy
1978-Argentina
1974-West Germany
1970-Brazil
1966-England
1962-Brazil
1958-Brazil
1954-West Germany
1950-Uruguay
1938-Italy
1934-Italy
1930-Uruguay
