Mikel Oyarzabal had two goals and an assist in the first half of Spain’s win over Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Pablo Garcia/Soccrates/Getty Images)
(Soccrates Images via Getty Images)
Spain‘s World Cup pursuit quickly accelerated after a sluggish first game.
The Euro 2024 champions scored three goals across the first 24 minutes in an incredibly easy 4-0 Group H win over Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring by knocking in a cross from Mikel Oyarzabal at the back post, and then Oyazarbal took over from there.
Oyazarbal scored the next two goals, including this finish off an incredible combination in the Saudi Arabia box. It could be one of the best buildups to a goal you’ll see all tournament.
By the time the first-half hydration break hit, Saudi Arabia’s chances of winning were basically zero. And they were officially extinguished early in the second half when Marc Cucurella‘s shot bounced in off Saudi Arabia defender Hassan Al-Tambakti for an own goal.
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The early goal barrage also meant manager Luis de la Fuente could rest his key attackers in the second half. Yamal didn’t start Spain’s 0-0 tie with Cape Verde as he recovers from a hamstring injury suffered late in the club season with Barcelona. He was unlikely to go all 90 minutes anyway on Sunday, but de la Fuente didn’t have to risk Yamal playing more than 45 minutes.
The same went for Oyarzabal, who was much more lively on Sunday than he was to open the World Cup. Having his teenage teammate on the field on the right flank certainly helped a lot against Saudi Arabia, and Oyarzabal almost absurdly completed a hat trick before halftime when his shot from an awkward angle to a nearly open goal bounced off the crossbar.
The big win gives Spain the pole position to win Group H. Even if Uruguay beats Cape Verde later in the day, Spain can win the group with a tie against the Uruguayans in the final group as long as it has a better goal differential.
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Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is really hoping for a tie between Uruguay and Cape Verde. The team that upset Argentina at the 2022 World Cup mustered a single shot through the first 80 minutes of the game and will need to beat Cape Verde and probably also get some help elsewhere to have a shot at moving on to the knockout rounds.
