Spain secured victory over hosts South Africa in the Confederations Cup third-place play-off courtesy of a Xabi Alonso extra-time free-kick. South African substitute Katlego Mphela opened the scoring in the second half, lashing in a Siphiwe Tshabalala cross. Two goals in two minutes from Daniel Guiza seemed to have won it for Spain until Mphela crashed home an injury-time free-kick to force extra-time. Alonso curled in a set-piece in the second period of extra-time to win it. For much of normal time this game was a typically drab third-place play-off, with European Champions Spain - whose 35-match unbeaten run came to a shock end against the United States in the semi-final - particularly lethargic. The closest either side came to a goal in the first half was a Matthew Booth snap shot that fizzed past the post for the home side. Spain were brighter in the second half, with Albert Riera forcing a smart save from Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. However, it was the home side who took the lead when Tshabalala was released wide left and his cross was firstly controlled by Mphela before being crashed into the roof of the net by the striker. It looked like being the only goal of the game until Guiza's late show. The substitute striker turned in a Santi Cazorla cross with his right foot into the bottom left-hand corner in the 88th minute. Barely a minute later he had put Spain into the lead, when what appeared to have been a cross beat Khune, clipped the far upright and went in. It appeared as though this would be enough to win the match for Spain, but with the final kick of the match, three minutes into injury-time, Mphela lashed in a spectacular 25-yard free-kick to extend matters by a further thirty minutes. In an understandably nervy extra-time, Liverpool midfielder Alonso had the final say, with a smart, curling free-kick that beat attackers and defenders alike to find the far right corner of the net. Source: BBC