Norway 0 - Spain
3
Spain: Asier Riesgo;
Ceballos, Jarque, Murillo (Melli 70'), Peña; Sergio Torres, Iniesta;
Carmelo (Pina 58'), Sergio García (Jonan 65'), Reyes; Fernando Torres.
4-2-3-1.
Goals: 0-1. 23. Reyes.
Following up after keeper saved from Fernando Torres. 0-2. 55. Fernando
Torres. Low shot under keeper after pass in from Iniesta. 0-3. 68. Reyes.
Spectacular volley on the turn into top of net.
Group A league table
(after 2 games): Slovakia 6 points Spain 4 points Czech
Republic 1 point Norway 0 points
Group B league table
(after 2 games): Germany 4 points Eire 3 points England 2
points Belgium 1 point
Spain's youngsters beat
hosts Norway to move closer to a place in the final and ensure their
participation in the youth World Cup in the United Arab Emirates next spring as
one of the top six European sides. Sevilla's Reyes passed a late fitness test
on his injured ankle and was to prove the star of the match, scoring two goals
and proving too much of a handful for the Scandinavian defence. After going
close a couple of times, he gave his side the lead midway through the first
half after a shot from his Atlético Madrid strike partner Fernando
Torres was blocked by keeper Larsen.
With Norway billed as the
weakest side in the group, Iñaki Saéz used the game to give a run
out to other members of his squad, including Real Sociedad keeper Asier Riesgo,
who had an easy debut. Ten minutes in to the second half Fernando Torres opened
his account in the competition after Barcelona's Iniesta set him up, and Reyes
added a third with a spectacular volley a few minutes later. The victory sets
them up for a place in the final this weekend, although to do so they will have
to beat a Slovakia side who have scored five goals in each of their first two
games. The game takes place on Thursday, and they will be missing Athletic
Bilbao central defender Murillo, who picked up a second yellow card in this
match. |