Johannesburg: Andres Iniesta struck deep into second half of the extra time to give Spain their maiden FIFA World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in a drama-filled summit clash here.
Iniesta scored the winner in the 116th minute after both the sides were locked goal-less in the regulation 90 minutes in an ill-tempered grand finale yesterday which saw ejection of Dutch defender John Heitinga in the 110th minute for his second booking and another 12 yellow cards being shown.
Spain, who had never gone beyond quarterfinals before this World Cup, bagged world football's most coveted trophy after 13 appearances since 1934.
New world champions Spain, the eighth such team in history, now join Brazil (five titles), Italy (four), Germany (three), Argentina (two), Uruguay (two), France (one) and England (one).
Fittingly a new world champion was crowned at the first World Cup in Africa which was one of the most successful editions in FIFA history, though the summit clash was short of a classic besides the rough play of the footballers.
When captain Iker Casillas lifted the World Cup trophy from FIFA chief Sepp Blatter at the Soccer City Stadium, reigning European champions Spain had also shed the tag of perennial underachievers in world football.
On the other hand, the Netherlands failed to erase their agony of finishing losing finalists twice in 1974 and 1978 and remained world football's underachievers.
Spain also became the first European country to win the World Cup outside their continent, a feat which could not be achieved by Italy, Germany, England and France.
The 'La Roja', as Spain is known as, now join Brazil and Argentina who have World Cup triumphs outside their continental zone.
It has been fabulous two years for Spain who won the European Championships in 2008 -- their second after 1964 --and has now become world champions. They are the only second side to be the reigning European and world champions at the same time after France -- 1972 European champions and 1974 World Cup winners.
The first half of the final match was largely a dull contest of midfield domination which no side could do prominently but the second session and the extra time dished out an exhibition of fast-paced and open football with both the sides wasting chances galore.
Playing in their first World Cup clash, both the sides, known for playing free-flowing football with quick passing game, were scrappy in the opening half which lacked quality but abundant in fouls.
Vicente Del Bosque's side, who tamed Germany in the semifinal with a mesmerizing passing game, failed to repeat it today, losing the ball too early to break the chain of possession.
The Netherlands made use of the nimble footedness of Arjen Robben and the Bayern Munich winger missed a golden chance which could have sealed the match in his side's favour and was unlucky not to have scored due to Spain defender Carles Puyol's clear foul though English referee Howard Webb did not spot it.
Spain could have taken the lead by the fifth minute but for a brilliant save by German keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Xavi Hernandez curled in a free-kick from the right and Sergio Ramos, who earned the set piece after being fouled by Dutch captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst, headed in only to find Stekelenburg diving to his right to block it.
The Netherlands had their best and only chance of the first half in the added time but Robben's left-footer from top right edge of the box was parried away from his near post by Spain keeper and captain Casillas.
In the 62nd minute, Robben could have given his side the lead but he missed the best chance of the match as he was only facing Spain custodian off a pass by Wesley Sneijder.
An advancing Casillas could deflect Robben's final push by his trailing leg for a corner.
In the 70th minute, it was the turn of Spain to waste a chance.
Jesus Navas, who came in for Pedro Rodriguez in the 60th minute, sent a cross from the right and it fell to Villa after slipping through Heitinga's legs. Villa though shot it over.
Spain missed yet another chance in the 77th minute when Sergio Ramos' free-header in front of the Dutch goal off a corner by Xavi Hernandez flew over the bar.
Seven minutes from the normal time, Robben surged ahead of Puyol who tugged the Dutch's shirt trying to haul back and Casillas raced off his line to gather the ball.
Robben raced up to referee Webb to protest and he was penalised with a yellow card.
The opening half of the extra time saw Spain tightening the screws and pressing hard for a goal and they could have done that on three occasions.
In the 93rd minute, Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez could not take the shots under close shadowing by Dutch defenders and David Villa's hit went wide.
Two minutes later, Cesc Fabregas, who came in for Xabi Alonso in the 87th minute, had only Maarten Stekelenburg to beat but the Arsenal captain shot straight to the Dutch custodian.
Iniesta then took too long to shoot with only keeper in front only to be cleared by chasing Dutch captain Bronckhorst.
Five minutes into the second half of the extra time, Iniesta went down after being challenged by Heitinga just in front of the box and the referee had no hesitation to show the second yellow card to the Dutch defender and he was ejected from the match.
Then came the goal which created history for Spain.
In the 116th minute, Fernando Torres, who took the field in the beginning of the second half extra time, clipped a cross into the box for Fabregas who sent the ball for Iniesta inside the box.
The Barcelona star took a touch before volleying past Maarten Stekelenburg for Spain to be crowned new world champions.
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