Marauding victory for Spain

Spain 4 – Xabi Alonso (13), David Villa (17) (48,p), Fernando Torres (81)
Ukraine 0

Spanish strikers David Villa and Fernando Torres (pix) marked their arrival to the international stage with sizzling performances, scoring thrice between them in a 4-0 thrashing of new boys Ukraine.

The effective partnership of this duo kept Spain’s prolific and talismanic goalscorer Raul out of the starting eleven, and more importantly damned Ukraine to an unexpected heavy defeat.

Spain dominated from the start to the final whistle, accumulating 19 shots to Ukraine's five. And this victory marked Spain’s 23-match unbeaten streak.

For years Spain had the reputation as a World Cup underachiever but this year it might, just might, finally put that dubious honour to rest.

This is Spain’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance and they have failed to reach the semifinals since posting their best result in a fourth-place finish in 1950.

Playing with flair and finesse, Spain took a lead through Xabi Alonso in the 13th minute, Villa made it two just four minutes later. Both the goals had some elements of fortune after being deflected into the net by Ukraine players.

But the biggest slice of luck came for Spain in the 48th minute when referee Massimo Busacca made two wrong decisions. First he sent off Vladyslav Vashchyuk for apparently pulling Torres’ shirt as the striker was running free towards goal, and then he awarded a penalty.

It was a dubious penalty but Villa made no mistake in scoring, and making it 3-0.

Ukraine had the wind taken off their sail and they struggled from thereon with 10 men and three goals down. Spain made some substitutions to rest some of the important players, and one player to come in was Raul.

The best move and goal of the match came in the 81st minute. Torres, who tormented the Ukraine defence throughout the match, ended a string of passes which began when Puyol intercepted a pass at midfield. Torres ended the move with a powerful right-footer in the 81st minute.

Ukraine star Andriy Shevchenko, expected to parade his goal-scoring talent on the world's biggest soccer stage, had little effect on the match. Ukraine is the only European country making its debut. The team was the first in Europe to qualify for the event and was unbeaten in five friendly matches this year.


Tunisia 2 - Z Jaziri (24), R Jaidi (90)
Saudi Arabi 2 - Y Al Kahtani (57), S Al Jaber (84)

In the other match in the group, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia played to a 2-2 draw. The game only came to live in the last 10 minutes when in the preceding 80 minutes it was filled with errant passes and sloppy football.

This was surely not a showcase of what Asian and African football can offer.

Saudi Arabia trailed by a goal for the majority of the game but somehow managed to overcome that and led 2-1 until the 92th minute. At that point, up stepped Bolton’s Raidi Jaidi who jumped higher than the entire Saudi Arabia defence to head home the equalizer.

Saudi Arabia tried hectically in the remaining two minutes of injury time to steal a win and they had decent chances which went begging.

Spain next play Tunisia while Ukraine will play Saudi Arabia on June 19.