Xinhua

Mata and Cesc give Spain a hard fought win in Armenia
2009-10-11 08:27:01

MADRID, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — Two goals from striker Juan Mata gave
Spain a hard fought 2-1 win in its World Cup qualifying game away to
Armenia on Saturday.

The Spanish travelled to Armenia already qualified for next summer’s
World Cup finals, but with several players missing through injury.

With Dani Guiza forced to withdraw with a hamstring injury on Friday
night and David Villa and Fernando Llorente already unavailable, Spain
coach Vicente del Bosque named Mata and Fernando Torres as his
forwards for the match.

Del Bosque also named Pepe Reina in goal ahead of Iker Casillas, while
Cesc Fabrigas was also given a place in the starting 11.

Armenia had never scored against Spain in the eight previous meetings
between the two teams, of which Spain had won all.

The huge gulf in class between the two sides became clear from the
start. In pouring rain, the Spanish pegged the home side back in its
own half.

Cesc opened the scoring after 32 minutes, just after the home side had
wasted its best chance of the game after Reina had been drawn rashly
off his line.

The Arsenal midfielder clipped the ball home with the outside of his
foot from the edge of the area, chipping the Armenian keeper.

It was just reward for the Spanish, who apart from one chance against
them, had been totally in command.

The second half meanwhile was a more scrappy affair as Armenia worked
hard to get back into the game. After 55 minutes Alvaro Negredo made
his Spain debut after replacing Torres.

However, three minutes later Armenia was level. Arzumanyan got on the
end of a curling free kick to head past Reina, although the ball may
have deflected past Puyol on its way into the net.

The goal galvanized the home fans and Spain was in the back foot for a
while before Mata put the European champions back in front from the
penalty spot.

Armenia keeper Berezovsky brought down Mata, who had controlled a Cesc
Despite the efforts of an Armenian side that never stopped working,
Spain controlled possession until the end of the game to win its ninth
victory of the group phase.
Editor: Li Xianzhi