Portugal, Spain, and Chile all light up the net and field on a brilliant day of soccer action.
On the final day of the second round of matches, three teams picked up key wins that should or does ensure their safe passage to the next round of the tournament.
In the first game of the day was from Group G as Portugal took on North Korea.
Both teams had dissapointing results in their first matches of the World Cup, with Portugal settling for a 1-1 tie with Ivory Coast, and North Korea eventually losing 2-1 to a much better Brazilian side.
However on this day, things would be different.
The game was played in Cape Town with torrential rains, which led to a wide open match with plenty of offense.
And after 90 minutes of soccer, Portugal came out the victors, winning 7-0 (Yes Seven goals were scored) over North Korea.
A balanced Portugal attack (Six of the seven goals were scored by different players) and a sloppy Korean defense led to the incredible final result. Add to that a classic Portugal performance that brought back memories of the golden era in Portuguese soccer and you see what kind of match it was. In attendance was arguably the greatest soccer player for Portugal ever, Eusebio, who in the 1966 World Cup scored four goals for Portugal in a 5-3 comeback victory over....who else, North Korea.
With the win, Portugal basically ensures itself a place in the second round of the tournament, with their final match against Brazil determining who finishes first and second in the group.
In Group H action, Chile took on Switzerland in Port Elizabeth.
It was another match that was marred by an early red card, with Switzerland midfielder Valon Behrami (one of their top players) earning the dismissal for lashing out with his arm at Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal.
The Swiss did well though to play a man down for 60 minutes, and only a great goal from the South African born Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez was enough to win the match 1-0.
Chile had plenty of chances, but the Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio had the game of his life, and on numerous times kept his side in the game.
With the win Chile moves to the top of the group with six points from two 1-0 wins, and as long as they get a draw or win in their final match against Spain, they will make it to the next round of the World Cup.
In the final game of the day, Spain took on Honduras at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.
After being embarrassed in a loss to the Swiss, the Spanish came out playing their usual top notch soccer, and finished off Honduras' World Cup hopes with a 2-0 win.
David Villa had both goals for Spain, and could have had at least one more, but he missed a penalty kick.
Spain now must win in their final match against Chile to make it to the next round of the tournament, or they can draw but they need Switzerland and Honduras to tie or Honduras to win.
An exciting ending to the second round of matches created some beautiful soccer and plenty of goals, which viewers were hoping for.
Here's to the final round of the group stage.
-Dan Karell
