Oyarzabal scores two goals as Spain dominates Austria in World Cup knockout
Mikel Oyarzabal’s brace allows the European champions to dominate Austria and move on to the round of 16. Click here to share on social media
Mikel Oyarzabal’s brace allows the European champions to dominate Austria and move on to the round of 16. Click here to share on social media Spain coasted past Austria and into the FIFA World Cup last 16 on Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win, with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header. The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defence in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on. The win, which could have been by a greater margin – with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork – sets up a tantalising round-of-16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia. “I’m happy to help the team and get through to the next round.
Now we need to rest,” said Oyarzabal directly after full-time. “They were a physical side and difficult to play against, but we played a good match. We’re happy to qualify,” he added. As to whether he would prefer Portugal or Croatia in Monday’s last-16 match-up, Oyarzabal remarked: “It doesn’t matter who we face in the next round; I have friends in both teams.” Oyarzabal sets the tone Los Angeles Stadium was a sea of red and excitement over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favourite to the US’s second city. Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break. Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.
Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot around the post. Austria’s defence finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide, left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the goalkeeper. Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank. An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was well saved. Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot. ‘Ole’ After the break, Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest. Austria sent on two giant strikers, Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic, and immediately went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header over the bar.
The BriefWire