Cape Town: While 2008 world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo was again subdued as Portugal was eliminated from the World Cup, David Villa scored his fourth goal of the competition for a 1-0 win that took Spain into the quarterfinals. Villa moved to the top of the tournament scoring charts with Gonzalo Higuain and Robert Vittek.
"David Villa is on fire, which is really good news for us," Spain defender Gerard Pique said.
Villa showed the sort of scoring touch against Portugal that Ronaldo has been lacking for his national team. First shooting with his left foot to force goalkeeper Eduardo to make a save, he followed up by knocking in the rebound with his right foot for a 63rd-minute winner.
Ronaldo was billed as one of the top stars coming into the tournament in South Africa, but left much as England's Wayne Rooney did: with bitter disappointment. He did not speak to reporters after the match, but vented his frustration on his agent's website.
"I feel devastated, completely brokenhearted, frustrated and unimaginably sad," Ronaldo said. "I know I'm the captain, I have always faced up to my responsibilities, and I always will."
Villa has no such regrets. Everything is on the upswing for him.
Even before coming to South Africa, Villa already had made his big club move from Valencia to Barcelona. It allowed him to fully concentrate on what he does best: score goals. And with seven World Cup goals overall, the 28-year old is Spain's best ever at the tournament. There is only one key to Villa's success.
"To keep scoring," Villa said. "It was one of my best goals because it got us through to the next round. Keep scoring so we can keep going."
The score left Villa with 42 goals in 62 games, just two short of the 44 in 102 racked up by Raul Gonzalez, Spain's icon in the game. On top of scoring, Villa was a constant threat on the left wing, continuing to threaten Portugal with surging runs and powerful shots. Half an hour after the game at Green Point Stadium, hundreds of Spanish fans were still singing Villa's praises.
How different the fortunes of Ronaldo have been. Not that he lacked support among the 62,955 fans at the stadium.
One banner read "Marry me Ronaldo." Three girls each had a portion of a banner: "Ro" ''Nal" and "Do." Others were Portuguese jerseys with Ronaldo's photo printed on the front.
It also displayed Ronaldo's predicament. When Villa has an off day, there is Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez or Fernando Torres to take charge.
Tuesday's loss showed that during the biggest games, Portugal still relies too heavily on Ronaldo. And the Real Madrid forward sometimes has trouble dealing with it.
Right before the opening whistle, Ronaldo pleaded to the heavens with outstretched arms, seemingly begging to make his mark on a huge game. It didn't work.
Villa turns it on when it matters — three goals at the 2006 World Cup, top scorer with four goals at Euro 2008, and four already here.
Ronaldo scored one penalty kick in 2006, one goal at Euro 2008 and one goal in South Africa.
When he came to Real Madrid from Manchester United as the world's most expensive player at $114 million, just showing up for the fan presentation filled Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
He was supposed to end a title drought for Real Madrid and get it into the Champions League final that his club hosted. He failed on those counts despite scoring 26 goals in 29 matches in his debut season.
And in the high-stakes rivalry with Barcelona, he will be facing a surging Villa next season. Perhaps Villa also will have a piece of the biggest soccer trophy of them all.
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