Torres bags two in Spain stroll
Reuters - Friday 03 September 2010, 20:54
VADUZ - Fernando Torres scored twice to
help world and European champions Spain to a 4-0 away win over
Liechtenstein on Friday in their Euro 2012 Group I qualifier.
Torres, who struggled for form and failed to score at the
World Cup where he was recovering from knee surgery, opened the
visitors' account with a delicate chip in the 18th minute.
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Liverpool coach Roy Hodgson had said that he wanted Torres
to miss the game but Spain paid no attention and he was on
target again in the 54th minute before being substituted. David
Villa and substitute David Silva scored the other goals.
Villa, who hit the crossbar in stoppage time, took his
international tally to 43 goals, one short of Raul's record,
amid some confusion.
The Spanish federation's website listed his total before the
match as 43 but a spokesman and Spanish media said it was one
fewer.
The tiny Rheinpark stadium with its capacity of just over
6,000, enough to accommodate roughly one sixth of
Liechtenstein's population, was a world away from Soccer City in
Johannesburg, where Spain won the World Cup just under two
months ago.
But if it felt like an anti-climax, the world champions did
not show it. Andres Iniesta forced a superb save from Peter
Jehle after only three minutes as they quickly got into their
stride.
YAWNING GULF
There was a minor scare when Sandro Wieser floated a long
free-kick over Iker Casillas' crossbar but, with Liechtenstein
ranked 141st in the world and without a win in nearly three
years, the gulf was far too great for any real hopes of an
upset.
Torres opened the scoring in the 18th minute after Iniesta
had slipped the ball through to him on the break.
He was denied by Jehle from a similar position shortly
afterwards but Villa added the second in the 26th minute when he
collected the ball just outside the area and, despite being
surrounded by defenders, managed to turn and rifle a right-foot
shot past Jehle .
Spain's intricate passing moves often resembled futsal as
they weaved their way through the home defence, with Jehle
coming to the rescue several times.
Jehle could do nothing, however, when substitute Cesc
Fabregas slipped the ball to Torres, who fired inside his near
post in the 54th minute.
David Silva added the fourth in the 62nd minute and Jehle,
who plays for Swiss second division FC Vaduz, prevented further
embarrassment with some more fine saves.
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