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Spain's players celebrate with Cesc Fabregas (R) after he scored against Estonia during their World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match at the Romano stadium in Merida, September 9, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
Spain fixed its place in next summer's FIFA World Cup finals with a comfortable 3-0 win over Estonia in Merida on Wednesday night.
Spain's triumph coupled with Bosnia-Herzegovina's failure to beat Turkey guaranteed the European champions a berth for the finals in South Africa.
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Spain's Juan Manuel Mata celebrates after scoring their team's third goal against Estonia during their World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match at the Romano stadium in Merida, September 9, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
Spain has so far managed a 100 percent record in their qualifying group with eight wins and 24 points from eight matches played.
Coach Vicente del Bosque made changes to the side that had brushed past Belgium at the weekend with Marcos Senna and Cesc Fabrigas starting in midfield for the Spanish.
After a start that saw both sides having spells of possession, Spain began to take control and it was Fabrigas who opened the scoring after 32 minutes.
The Arsenal midfielder took a pass from David Silva in the Estonia penalty area before calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net.
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Spain's Fernando Torres (L) kicks past Estonia's Tihhon Sisov during their World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match at the Romano stadium in Merida, September 9, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
The Spanish continued to dominate and could have added a second goal before the break with both Gerard Pique and David Villa having chances to score.
As it was the 15,000 fans who had packed into the Romano Stadium in Merida had to wait until the closing minutes of the match before the Spanish finally confirmed the win and their place in the Finals.
Substitute Santi Cazorla made it 2-0 with eight minutes left after Fabrigas turned provider with the final pass.
It was then Cazorla's turn to set up a team-mate as he provided the pass that allowed Juan Mata, another second half substitute to complete Spain's triumph with a left foot shot in injury time.
(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2009)
