MALAGA (Reuters) – Goals from Carlos Soler and Pablo Sarabia earned Spain a 2-0 win over Czech Republic on Sunday, a outcome that put them on prime of UEFA Nations League Group A2.
Last 12 months’s finalists dominated the sport from the beginning and opened the scoring when Soler struck from shut vary within the twenty fourth minute following an excellent go by man-of-the-match Marco Asensio.
Substitute Sarabia prolonged Spain’s lead within the seventy fifth minute, ending a counter-attack began by Barcelona’s 17-year-old midfielder Gavi.
The Spaniards, who wore the ladies’s group jersey to assist their feminine counterparts who will play the Women’s European Championship subsequent month in England, prime Group A2 standings with eight factors from 4 matches.
Portugal dropped to second with seven factors following a 1-0 defeat by Switzerland.
Third-placed Czech Republic have 4 factors, one forward Switzerland, who recorded their first win on this 12 months’s competitors.
Luis Enrique made 9 adjustments to the beginning line-up that beat Switzerland 1-0 on Thursday.
Making his first begin for Spain since November 2020, Asensio supplied the go which Soler fired in from shut vary.
Spain saved threatening the Czechs and loved 73% of possession however usually lacked the precision to make it depend. They solely managed to attain after Gavi got here off the bench within the second half.
In the seventy fifth minute, {the teenager} stole the ball and raced past two opposing gamers earlier than passing via to Ferran Torres, who crossed to Sarabia. The Paris St Germain midfielder was left to fireside the ball into an empty aim.
“It was all good,” Soler advised TVE.
“We got here wanting to present these followers who created an incredible ambiance a win and it got here accompanied by an important efficiency.
“Ending up the group leaders is the cherry on prime, so it was an important effort and a superb night time.”
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas, enhancing by Pritha Sarkar)
