SPAIN BEAT GEORGIA TO MAINTAIN PERFECT START TO WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
Luis De La Fuente’s side strolled to victory in Elche against Georgia thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Yeremy Pino.
Spain dominated the match from the first whistle, stroking the ball around confidently in the final third and piling immense pressure on the Georgian defence.
The hosts’ first real chance came after 18 minutes, when Pino sent a brilliant ball to the back post for Oyarzabal but the Real Sociedad man could only send his header over the crossbar.
La Roja took the lead after 24 minutes thanks to some brilliant work from Robin Le Normand, who steered the ball back across the face of goal for Pino who converted from close range.
Ferran Torres had the chance to double Spain’s lead just minutes later from the penalty spot following a foul from goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, but saw his effort saved.
Spain amassed 11 shots in the first half to Georgia’s zero, whilst they completed a whopping 358 passes to the visitors’ tally of 57, perhaps the most telling statistic of how one-sided the first half was.
Victory was sealed just after the hour mark thanks to a sensational free-kick from Oyarzabal. The Spain man stepped up and struck a thumping effort past Mamardashvili and into the back of the net.
La Roja had plenty of chances to increase their lead, but all went begging. On another day, the scoreline could have been a lot uglier for Georgia, who, despite their frustration with the defeat, will be counting themselves lucky to have escaped Elche with just a 2-0 defeat.
For Spain, that is now three matches, three wins, 11 goals scored and zero goals conceded.
