Spain, Chile reach last 16 as Swiss fire blanks

European champions Spain reached the last 16 of the World Cup on Friday with a 2-1 win over Chile, who also qualified from Group H as runners-up at the expense of Switzerland, who parted 0-0 with Honduras.

David Villa grabbed his third goal of the competition in the 24th minute to put Spain ahead in Pretoria and Andres Iniesta added the second in the 37th minute with Chile’s Marco Estrada red-carded for a foul on Fernando Torres in the build-up.

Rodrigo Millar scored a consolation early in the second half as Chile bagged second place.

But Spain, who now meet neighbours Portugal, must now sweat on the fitness of Fernando Torres as Villa’s sidekick went off ten minutes after the restart, giving way to Cesc Fabregas.

Liverpool’s Torres came to South Africa two months on from ankle surgery and has looked off the pace so far.

Spain and Chile – who next must go up against five-time champions Brazil – finished with six points while the Swiss ended up on four.

The Swiss gamble of dropping record goalscorer Alexander Frei and pairing Blaise Nkufo with Eren Derdiyok up front backfired as Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side missed a host of chances, as befitted a side with only three goals in their past seven internationals.

The Swiss created a sensation by beating Spain in their opening Group game but then lost to the Chileans by the only goal to leave the outcome of the whole group riding on the last game.

And despite their pressure the Swiss came close to handing Honduras their first ever win at the finals as Georgie Welcome fired home from Edgar Alvarez’s pass, only to be flagged up for offside.