International Matches - Under 19

Spain 1 – Russia 3

Spain: Sivera; Antonio Marín, Jorge Meré, Vallejo, Aaron Caricol; Mikel Merino (Nahuel 55’), Rodri (Pape Cheikh 87’); Marco Asensio, Dani Ceballos, David Concha (Carlos Fernández 75’); Borja Mayoral. 4-2-3-1.
Russia: Mitryushkhin; Makarov, Chernov, Khodzhanniyazov, Yakuba; Barinov, Golovin (Nurisov 79’); Guliev (Zhemaletdinov 90’), Melkadze (Bezdenezhnykh 66’), Gasilin; Sheydaev. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 13. Mayoral. Picked up loose ball on right of area and fired shot past keeper.
1-1. 37. Barinov. Took Guliev centre and ran on to curl shot inside near post.
1-2. 48. Gasilin. Controlled Golovin cross and struck angled shot across Sivera.
1-3. 54. Sheydaev. Steered header wide of keeper after Melkadze crossed in.

Spain’s under 19 side were brought down to Earth in their second group game, a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Russia leaving them with work to do to reach the knock-out stage. Luis De las Fuente’s side were on a high after their big win against Germany, and with less than a quarter of an hour on the clock Borja Mayoral picked up a loose ball after Asensio was tackled to run on and fire a shot inside the near post. Asensio went close a couple of times as the youngsters looked to extend their lead, but with eight minutes to go to the break Barinov held off Merino before curling a shot wide of Sivera. Worse was to come though, Russia adding two more in the opening ten minutes of the second half, the first an angled shot from Gasilin after Golovin set him up, and the second a header by Sheydaev from Melkadze’s cross. The East Europeans were left with ten men when Khodzhanniyazov was given a second yellow card for protesting, but even so Spain hardly troubled Mitryushkin after that. As luck would have it though they still end the day at the top of their group on goal difference in a four-way tie after Holland beat Germany in the other group game, and a draw against Holland in three days’ time will see them into the semi-finals.