Spain 6-0 Cyprus: Ferran Torres grabs two goals as Spain hit six past Cypriots to move closer to Euro 2024 qualification
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ByEurosport
Updated 12/09/2023 at 21:22 GMT
Spain had very little trouble overcoming Cyprus in Granada in their Euro qualifier on Tuesday. Gavi, Mikel Merino, Joselu, Ferran Torres (2) and Alex Baena - on his international debut - all got on the scoresheet as Spain brushed aside their opponents. Victory for Spain puts them on nine points after four matches and sit in second in Group A. Spain trail group leaders Scotland by six points.
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A dominant Spain picked up where they left off as they dished out another battering to Cyprus.
Luis de la Fuente’s side, who beat Georgia 7-1 on Friday night, made it two wins from two for the international break as they netted four times after half-time in a 6-0 victory.
La Roja set up camp in their opponent’s half from the first whistle, and finally took a deserved lead when Gavi converted from Nico Williams’ cross.
From then on, it was a case of how many the hosts would win by, adding a second when Mikel Merino headed home after a sustained period of pressure.
Cyprus were somewhat more resolute after the break, with a handful of substitutes shoring up their defence, but they were eventually broken down by substitute Joselu, who nodded home Carvajal’s cross, before Ferran Torres made it 4-0 three minutes later.
Debutant Alex Baena then rounded off the scoring just a minute after coming off the bench before Torres added his second, and Spain’s sixth, as the hosts closed the gap on Group A leaders Scotland to just six points with a game in hand.
TALKING POINT - Super-sub Joselu
He would probably rather be starting internationals, but Joselu really is making a name for himself by coming off the bench.
The striker, who is on-loan at Real Madrid from Espanyol this season, bagged his fourth goal for his country in what was just his sixth international appearance.
Remarkably, each of those strikes have come as a substitute. When you’ve got Alvaro Morata ahead of you, he’s not exactly a bad weapon to be able to bring on.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Lamine Yamal (Spain). This 16-year old, who became Spain’s youngest ever starter tonight, is already on his way to stardom after another glittering performance.
Cyprus simply couldn’t handle the Barcelona man, who beat his man time and again down the right wing, creating numerous chances for himself and his teammates.
The turn of pace, the way he receives the ball, the drop of the shoulder and many more factors make this young man a star for now, let alone the future.
PLAYER RATINGS
SPAIN: Simon 6; Carvajal 7, Le Normand 6, Laporte 6, Gaya 7; Gavi 8, Rodri 8, Merino 8; Yamal 9, Morata 7, Williams 8. Subs: Pino 6, Joselu 7, Ferran Torres 7, Balde 6, Baena n/a
Subs: Kepa, Raya, Azpilicueta, Pau Torres, Fabian Ruiz, Zubimendi, Abel Ruiz
CYPRUS: Mall 7; Karo 5, Gogic 5, Laifis 5; Andreou 4, Kyriakou 5, Kousoulos 5, Charalampous 5, Barros 4; Kastanos 4, Sotiriou 4. Subs: Ioannou 6, Tzionis 6, Pittas n/a, Pileas n/a, Panayiotou n/a
Subs: Demetriou, Panayi, Antoniades, Christofi, Loizou, Ilia, Kakoullis, Filiotis,
KEY MOMENTS
18’ GOAL! SPAIN 1-0 CYPRUS (Gavi). Deadlock broken, and it had been coming! Lovely play from Williams, who gets to the line before pulling back for Gavi, who volleys in at the near post. Terrific goal
33’ GOAL! SPAIN 2-0 CYPRUS (Mikel Merino). It really was only a matter of time. Spain spent a minute or so just stroking the ball around, looking for a way through, and it eventually comes as Williams crosses to Merino, who powerfully heads into the back of the net
40’ MORATA GOAL RULED OUT. Yamal hits the bar and Morata reacts quickly to convert the rebound, but VAR adjudge him to be narrowly offside
70’ GOAL! SPAIN 3-0 CYPRUS (Joselu). Oh that's wonderful. A whipped first-time cross by Dani Carvajal, finding Joselu near the six-yard line, and he flicks a header into the far corner with Mall motionless.
73’ GOAL! SPAIN 4-0 CYPRUS (Ferran Torres). The floodgates have opened! Carvajal is involved again, with his pull back finding substitute Torres, who calmly strokes into the back of the net.
77’ GOAL! SPAIN 5-0 CYPRUS (Alex Baena). How's that for an international debut? You have to feel for Mall, who makes an utterly sublime save to deny Joselu, but the ball bobbles out into the area and Baena fires home
83’ GOAL! SPAIN 6-0 CYPRUS (Ferran Torres). And there's the sixth! Torres drifts in from the right, collects a delightful pass in his stride and then curls into the bottom corner past a motionless goalkeeper. Rodri with the pass, by the way, and what a pass
KEY STATS
- Spain have now won 24 European Championship qualifiers in a row on home soil
- Cyprus, on the other hand, have lost their eight European Championship qualifiers
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