Oyarzabal scores two goals as Spain dominates Austria in World Cup knockout

Mikel Oyarzabal’s brace allows the European champions to predominate Austria and determination connected to the circular of 16.

Spain coasted past Austria and into the FIFA World Cup past 16 connected Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents successful a 3-0 knockout win, with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.

The European champions controlled possession and sliced done the Austrian defence successful a typically ascendant show successful Los Angeles, arsenic Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem and vocalist Rosalia cheered on.

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The win, which could person been by a greater borderline – with a disallowed extremity and a escaped footwear disconnected the woodwork – sets up a tantalising round-of-16 clash with either Portugal oregon Croatia.

“I’m blessed to assistance the squad and get done to the adjacent round. Now we request to rest,” said Oyarzabal straight aft full-time.

“They were a carnal broadside and hard to play against, but we played a bully match. We’re blessed to qualify,” helium added.

As to whether helium would similar Portugal oregon Croatia successful Monday’s last-16 match-up, Oyarzabal remarked: “It doesn’t substance who we look successful the adjacent round; I person friends successful some teams.”

Oyarzabal sets the tone

Los Angeles Stadium was a oversea of reddish and excitement implicit the archetypal sojourn by a bona fide World Cup favourite to the US’s 2nd city.

Spain ratcheted up the unit gradually done the archetypal half, creating a drawstring of chances aft the archetypal hydration break.

Marc Cucurella thought helium had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to person encroached connected Austria’s goalkeeper.

Alexander Schlager past made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s debased changeable astir the post.

Austria’s defence yet buckled successful the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a shot wide, near to Cucurella, whose transverse to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the goalkeeper.

Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, chiefly from the close flank.

An Alex Baena escaped footwear deed the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up changeable was good saved.

Austria spurned a uncommon accidental astatine the different end. Romano Schmid played successful a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a unspeakable archetypal interaction meant helium mislaid the shot earlier adjacent attempting a shot.

Oyarzabal scores his 2nd extremity against Austria successful the 89th infinitesimal [Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images via Reuters]

‘Ole’

After the break, Spain continued knocking connected the doorway without rather putting the crippled to rest.

Austria sent connected 2 elephantine strikers, Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic, and instantly went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header implicit the bar.

But successful the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a transverse onto the caput of Pedro Porro, who nodded successful his archetypal extremity for Spain.

Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goal-line clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted disconnected to remainder moments later.

Spain sprayed passes astir the transportation arsenic the last minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the crowd, arsenic attraction turned to a sterner trial connected Monday successful Dallas.

In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella transverse recovered a wholly unmarked Oyarzabal successful the punishment area, who slotted the shot location to seal the triumph successful style.