Spain: De Gea, Azpilicueta, Botía,
Domínguez, Canella; Javi Martínez, Rubén Pérez
(Thiago 46'); Mata, Canales (Ander Herrera 66'), Diego Capel (Nsue 88'); Bojan.
4-2-3-1.
Holland: Zoet; Blind (Kieftenbeld 67'),
Marcellis, Viergever, Van Aanholt; Gorter, Toornstra (Roorda 71'); Cabral,
Dost, De Jong; Goossens (Nuytinck 84'). 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 26. Canales. Back-heel flick past Zoet from
Diego Capel cross.
1-1. 32. Dost. Following up after Cabral shot from came
back off post.
2-1. 54. Capel. First time shot past keeper after Mata laid
ball back.
Spain's under 21 side are a step nearer to a place in the European finals after beating Holland 2-1 on Thursday evening in a repeat at junior level of the World Cup final. The Dutch team are already sure of being group champions, but Spain needed to win this match to push for one of the four places for the best qualified runners up.
Luis Milla could count on World Champions Javi Martínez and Mata, but even so they had some problems before Canales opened the scoring with a clever back-heel flick from a Diego Capel cross. Six minutes later Holland equalised, Dost turning the ball back in to the net after Cabral's shot came back off the post, but a few minutes after the restart Capel restored the lead after Mata set him up from the left wing.
The Netherlands were left with ten men when substitute Kieftenbeld was sent off for a foul on Ander, and Spain were awarded a penalty with five minutes to go after the Zaragoza midfielder was brought down by Nuytinck. However Zoet saved Bojan's spot kick, and the visitors could have equalised when Gorter hit the post in injury time. The win was what mattered though, and a victory next Tuesday in Poland should see them through for what will also be a shot at qualifying for the Olympic Games.