Spain 1 - Uzbekistan 0

Spain: Riesgo; Bouzón, Carlos García (Goikoetxea 30'), Melli, Peña; Vitolo, Gabi; Juanfran, Iniesta (Tello 80'), Gavilán; Sergio García (Manu 75'). 4-2-3-1.
Uzbekistan: Nesterov; Raimkulob (Boyev 86'), Krushelnitskiy, Holikov, Kadirov; Saidov, Magdeev (Quziboyev 35'), Suyunov (Vahobov 77'), Bikmoev; Zeytulayev, Geynrikh. 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Iniesta. Picked up ball in midfield and ran past defence to score.

Spain qualified for the last 16 of the youth World Cup after beating Uzbekistan 1-0. Although an unknown force, the Asian side had produced some good results in the competition, including leading Argentina right up until the final minutes before having a man sent off, and Armando Ufarte took no chances with his line up. assuming Argentina didn't lose to Mali, the youngsters only needed a draw to go through, although Zeytulayev gave Riesgo a bit of a scare early on with a shot just past the post. However Spain were in the driving seat from the quarter hour mark, when Barcelona's Iniesta scored a brilliant individualist goal to put his side one up.

Gavilán could have made it two soon afterwards with an effort which struck the post, but after that neither side really troubled the opposing keeper until the break. Ufarte had to replace Carlos García on the half hour mark, the Espanyol defender passing a late fitness test but not fully recovered from a previous knock, Goikoetxea coming on in his place. But the reorganised defence did their job well, and although Uzbekistan did get close to Riesgo's goal a couple of times in the second half they were no real threat.

The win means that Spain finish in second place in their group behind Argentina, and will play their next match in Al-Ain on Tuesday against Paraguay, the second placed side in group F. If they win that they have a relatively easy run through, with the winners of Burkino Faso and Canada in the quarter finals and only meeting the likes of Argentina or Brazil in a theoretical final. But maybe that is looking too far ahead.