Spain eased into the World Cup round of 16 with a commanding 3-0 win over Austria at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, with Mikel Oyarzabal sco
Spain eased into the World Cup round of 16 with a commanding 3-0 win over Austria at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice either side of a Pedro Porro header.
The European champions had a bright start disrupted when Marc Cucurella’s early close-range finish was controversially chalked off for a foul on goalkeeper Alexander Schlager during a crowded six-yard box scramble from a corner.
Undeterred, Spain continued to press and broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, Oyarzabal sweeping in a low cross from Cucurella for his third goal of the tournament.
Schlager kept Austria in touch before the break, twice denying Spain a more comfortable cushion — first pushing away an angled effort from Oyarzabal, then producing a superb point-blank save to deny Lamine Yamal after Alex Baena’s free-kick had rattled the crossbar in first-half stoppage time.
Spain doubled their advantage shortly after the restart when Tottenham’s Pedro Porro rose to head home Baena’s cross in the 66th minute, his first international goal, all but ending any hope of an Austrian comeback.
Ralf Rangnick’s side pushed for a way back into the contest, with substitute Sasa Kalajdzic heading narrowly over and Stefan Posch also missing the target, but they could not find a route past a well-organised Spanish defence.
Oyarzabal put the result beyond doubt a minute from time, converting another low centre from Cucurella to complete his brace and cap a dominant display in which Spain registered 23 shots to Austria’s five.
The victory extended Spain’s shutout streak to five successive clean sheets at the tournament, and marked their first World Cup knockout win since their triumphant 2010 campaign.
Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal was named man of the match after a lively performance that repeatedly troubled the Austrian backline.
Spain will face Portugal in the round of 16.
Portugal advanced from a dramatic last-32 tie against Croatia in a fierce contest.
COMMENTS