
Spain 5-0 New Zealand
By Peter Scrivener |
Torres' hat-trick was the second of his career for Spain |
Fernando Torres' first-half hat-trick helped Confederations Cup debutants Spain to crush New Zealand 5-0.
The Liverpool striker curled in from the edge of the box, sidefooted a second from six yards and powerfully headed a third inside 20 minutes.
Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas then ended a neat passing move by turning Joan Capdevila's cross into an empty net.
David Villa tapped in a fifth after the break as Spain recorded a 33rd game without defeat and 13th successive win.
It was the first meeting between the countries at senior level, and one that the All Whites will be keen to forget.
They were given a footballing lesson in the opening 25 minutes as a full-strength Spanish side tore them apart with excellent passing and movement.
Torres was the chief beneficiary, delightfully curling in his first from 20 yards after being left unmarked. He then created his own space in the box to coolly turn in Villa's accurate centre from the left.
Moments later Torres should have completed his hat-trick, but New Zealand keeper Glen Moss held his weak header.
However, Torres was not to be denied and he outjumped a static defence to clinically nod in Capdevila's cross from 10 yards.
And on 24 minutes, Spain produced the move of the match to score their fourth.
606: DEBATE Gingfranco_Zola |
Villa started the move passing the ball to Torres on the right who cut inside and found Xavi.
The Barcelona midfielder in turn spread the ball to Capdevila on the left wing and he exchanged passes with Liverpool's Albert Riera before picking out Fabregas, who calmly slotted home.
After the break, Torres turned provider after skipping past two players down the left wing. His low cross should have been cleared by Andy Boyens, but he kicked fresh air instead of the ball to leave Villa with the simplest of tap-ins at the back post.
Capdevila and Villa spared New Zealand further humiliation by firing shots wide, while Fabregas blazed over from close range as Spain continued to create chances.
Simon Elliott went closest for New Zealand, but his low shot from 30 yards was comfortably saved by Iker Casillas.
New Zealand: Moss, Lochhead, Vicelich, Mulligan, Boyens, Elliott, Brown, Bertos, Smeltz, Killen, Brockie.
Subs: Paston, Bannatyne, Scott, Oughton, Sigmund, Barron, Christie, James, Old, Wood, Bright, Smith.
Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Albiol, Capdevila, Xavi, Fabregas, Riera, Alonso, Villa, Torres.
Subs: Reina, Diego Lopez, Pique, Marchena, Pablo, Busquets, Llorente, Guiza, Arbeloa, Santi Cazorla, Silva, Mata.
Referee: Bonaventure Codija (Benin)
South Africa 0-0 Iraq
Highlights - Wasteful SA draw with Iraq
Hosts South Africa and Iraq shared the spoils in the opening game of the Fifa Confederations Cup in Johannesburg.
The hosts missed a hatful of chances with Kagisho Dikgacoi unlucky to see a goalbound header accidently blocked on the line by team-mate Bernard Parker.
Earlier South Africa's Macbeth Sibayo saw his 20-yard shot tipped round the post by Iraqi keeper Mohammed Kassid.
Striker Parker saw two efforts saved by Kassid while Thembinkosi Fanteni headed Teko Modise's corner over the bar.
Substitute Katlego Mashego should have done better for South Africa when finding himself one-on-one with Kassid.
The world of football trusts you, and the confidence is in you. It is in Africa, it is in South Africa today Fifa president Sepp Blatter |
But as was the case for much of the game the Iraq keeper proved to be unbeatable, doing well to smother the ball at the feet of Mashego.
Iraq rarely threatened South Africa who were cheered on by a partisan crowd of 48,837 at Johannesburg's Ellis Park.
The one time the hosts did beat Kassid, Parker found himself in the way of Dikgacoi's header, blocking it on the line and away to safety.
Earlier Fifa president Sepp Blatter had opened the tournament after a colourful ceremony at Ellis Park.
"Fifa is committed to Africa," said Blatter.
"The world of football trusts you, and the confidence is in you. It is in Africa, it is in South Africa today."
No comments:
Post a Comment