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Spain beats Latvia 2-0
Xavi Hernandez and Fernando Torres scored on Wednesday to give Spain a 2-0 win over Latvia in European Championship qualifying.
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Xavi Hernandez and Fernando Torres scored on Wednesday to give Spain a 2-0 win over Latvia in European Championship qualifying.
Torres scored after Latvia goalkeeper Andris Vanins was unable to hold a shot from substitute Miguel Angel Angulo in the 85th minute.
It was Torres' first goal for Spain in more than a year, and his 15th in 46 appearances. Xavi earlier gave Spain the lead in the 13th, tapping Joaquin Sanchez's cross into the roof of the goal.
Spain and Sweden both have 19 points at the top of Group F. Northern Ireland is third with 16 points after losing to Iceland 2-1.
Spain next plays at Denmark on October 13, while Sweden goes to last-place Liechtenstein.
"It was clear that we were superior on the field tonight," Spain midfielder David Albelda said. "We missed a lot of goals and we've gone through a lot of matches with this unfortunately."
Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs made no changes to the side that beat Northern Ireland on Saturday while Spain coach Luis Aragones started Albelda in place of Xabi Alonso, who was suspended after picking up a red card in Spain's 1-1 draw at Iceland.
Spain came out quickly, using Joaquin and David Silva to stretch its defensive-minded opponents.
Torres missed a chance in the 11th. The Liverpool striker slipped past two defenders to reach Xavi's through ball in the area only to push it out of reach, allowing Vanins to get to it first.
Two minutes later, Valencia winger Joaquin passed to the unmarked Xavi who grabbed his fifth goal in 51 appearances for Spain.
Maris Verpakovskis forced Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas into a diving stop in the 23rd, Latvia's only real chance of the match.
Spain kept up the pressure through the second half, with Torres getting above his marker to meet Joaquin's corner in the 59th - only to send it wide. Two minutes later, Torres deflected another cross wide.
Torres scored after Latvia goalkeeper Andris Vanins was unable to hold a shot from substitute Miguel Angel Angulo in the 85th minute.
It was Torres' first goal for Spain in more than a year, and his 15th in 46 appearances. Xavi earlier gave Spain the lead in the 13th, tapping Joaquin Sanchez's cross into the roof of the goal.
Spain and Sweden both have 19 points at the top of Group F. Northern Ireland is third with 16 points after losing to Iceland 2-1.
Spain next plays at Denmark on October 13, while Sweden goes to last-place Liechtenstein.
"It was clear that we were superior on the field tonight," Spain midfielder David Albelda said. "We missed a lot of goals and we've gone through a lot of matches with this unfortunately."
Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs made no changes to the side that beat Northern Ireland on Saturday while Spain coach Luis Aragones started Albelda in place of Xabi Alonso, who was suspended after picking up a red card in Spain's 1-1 draw at Iceland.
Spain came out quickly, using Joaquin and David Silva to stretch its defensive-minded opponents.
Torres missed a chance in the 11th. The Liverpool striker slipped past two defenders to reach Xavi's through ball in the area only to push it out of reach, allowing Vanins to get to it first.
Two minutes later, Valencia winger Joaquin passed to the unmarked Xavi who grabbed his fifth goal in 51 appearances for Spain.
Maris Verpakovskis forced Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas into a diving stop in the 23rd, Latvia's only real chance of the match.
Spain kept up the pressure through the second half, with Torres getting above his marker to meet Joaquin's corner in the 59th - only to send it wide. Two minutes later, Torres deflected another cross wide.
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