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, winning, 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" (The Illusionist) gave it one touch and then volleyed it eight 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.

After he scored, Iniesta ripped off his jersey to reveal a T-shirt that read: Dani Jarque Siempre Con Nosotros (Always With Us), a tribute to the former Spanish player who died last August of a heart attack at age 26.