South Africa vs. Spain: 6 Things We Learned from Bafana Bafana Win

South Africa scored a massive coup as they beat world and European champions Spain 1-0 on Tuesday night.

Bernard Parker scored the only goal of the game early in the second half.

The hosts attacked, as they had done frequently, down the left, playing good football before slipping in Parker to dink a finish over Victor Valdes.

La Roja huffed and puffed afterwards but never came close to breaching Itumeleng Khune's goal until Raul Albiol drew a stunning save from him in stoppage time.

It was Spain's first defeat since they lost to Brazil in the Confederations Cup in the summer, and their first defeat in a friendly since they lost to England in 2011.

Here are six things we learned from South Africa's memorable night.

It meant more to Spain (at first)

On paper it was just another friendly, but in reality Spain's trip to South Africa carried much more significance to the Spanish public than their previous jaunts to Haiti, Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabia.

That's because it marked the return to a ground where their dreams came true.

"Watching it again still gives me shivers," Iker Casillas told AS on Tuesday, speaking of his save from Arjen Robben which kept the 2010 World Cup final at 0-0.

Andres Iniesta would go on to score an extra-time winner and Spain, not Holland, were crowned world champions in Johannesburg.

Television, newspapers and websites were filled with anecdotes and memories in the build-up to La Roja's return to South Africa.

Unfortunately a nearly empty stadium suggests the Bafana Bafana fans weren't feeling as nostalgic.

But South Africa's players weren't caught in the nostalgia

When the home side eventually took the lead, it was in a style their more illustrious visitors would have been proud of.

A flowing move down the left resulted in the ball being shifted inside for Oupa Manyisa to release Bernard Parker—the Kaizer Chiefs frontman then chipped the ball home delightfully.

It wasn't against the run of play either.

Manyisa had already hit the bar, Parker the side netting and Tokelo Rantie and Daylon Classen had also looked dangerous.

It was nothing like a hit-and-run.

Questions over Spain's defending?

The direct running and counter-attacks led by the likes of Lawrence Tshabalala and Rantie caused the Spain back four problems all evening.

Admittedly it was only 50 percent of Spain's regular back four—Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba were missing—but Del Bosque will have been concerned at the ease with which he saw his side opened up for the South African goal.

Likewise, Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso were not without faults.

Time and again Bafana Bafana's forwards found space in between the lines to feed through balls or shoot from distance.

And but for a wonderful stop from Pepe Reina, Parker would have doubled the home side's lead.

David Villa still has an important role to play

David Villa is not the David Villa he was prior to his leg break at the World Club Championship, but it's clear he still has a part to play in Vicente del Bosque's Spain squad.

He has the ball in the back of the net twice in the opening 10 minutes—both times falling foul of the offside flag.

And while it wasn't a vintage Villa performance—he was taken off around the hour mark—it would be a surprise not to see him on the airplane to Brazil next summer.

But does Fernando Llorente?

It was another disappointing night dressed in the red of Spain for Juventus striker Fernando Llorente.

Not expected necessarily to provide the link-up play of a false nine or a Villa, Llorente was sloppy in possession and, at times, looked like he was on a different planet to Andres Iniesta.

He is expected to be good in the air and take his chances, though—he did neither when he headed a great chance wide after 27 minutes.

Llorente told AS this week that, in Diego Costa's position, he would have opted to represent his own country.

Perhaps that's because he's feeling the heat after another blank keeps him on seven goals in his 23 caps.

Three goalkeepers and common sense

For once we can talk of common sense in a football match.

Iker Casillas had played the first half for Spain and Victor Valdes replaced him at half-time—nothing amiss there.

However, with 15 minutes remaining—and La Roja having used up all their subs—Valdes needed to be replaced.

Alvaro Arbeloa looked set to take the gloves, but luckily for Spain, Pepe Reina was allowed to come on—not that South Africa manager Gordon Igesund looked too in favour of fair play.