Lamine and Oyarzabal lead first-half blitz as Spain smash Saudis for first win

[p]After a disappointing draw with Cape Verde on matchday one, it was little surprise to see Luis de la Fuente restore [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine Yamal[/a] to the starting XI.[/p][p][b]The 18-year-old was dynamite from the get-go, transforming the Spanish side’s attacking output, and he reaped the rewards of his fast start inside the opening 10 minutes when he slid home at the far post to convert [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oyarzabal-mikel/dQ1P695O/"]Mikel Oyarzabal[/a]’s pinpoint delivery.[/b][/p][image alt="Lamine Yamal's goal for Spain" id="62df0031-3b53-4213-bee3-373435fca162" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (Bernadett Szabo / Reuters)" guid="e315d6be-3f72-4673-bb7d-a651171ebcd8" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] were purring against a shell-shocked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/saudi-arabia/biSY8ox4/"]Saudi Arabia[/a], who hit self-implode when they could only half clear a corner and Oyarzabal was on hand to prod home to double the European champions’ lead. [/b][/p][p][b]The game was effectively ended as a contest after just 23 minutes, when Oyarzabal was again quickest to react in the box, turning home [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olmo-dani/2oVBOlPg/"]Dani Olmo[/a]’s flick-on at the far post to leave the Green Falcons pondering exactly where it all went wrong before the referee had even called the first drinks break. [/b][/p][p]The Spanish onslaught didn’t stop at any moment in the first half, and Oyarzabal ought to have grabbed his hat-trick when Saudi Arabia goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/al-owais-mohammed/hKyctrkU/"]Mohammed Al Owais[/a] passed the ball straight to him, but despite lobbing the ball over the stopper and towards the open goal, Oyarzabal’s inventive effort bounced away off the crossbar.[/p][image alt="Match Momentum" id="901cd9f4-a1ab-476a-b110-490d13cd6bf0" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="3097cb0f-860d-4ca4-9086-3f8c468c8c1d" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p]Even the half-time break didn’t deter the relentless Spanish onslaught, as they added a fourth within five minutes of the restart, albeit in rather fortuitous circumstances.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cucurella-marc/QTynbZd3/"]Marc Cucurella[/a]’s fierce strike forced Al-Owais to make a smart save, but his relief lasted little more than a millisecond as his stop ricocheted off the unfortunate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/al-tambakti-hassan/pjAkEZti/"]Hassan Tambakti[/a] and into the back of the net. [/b][/p][p]Withdrawing the likes of Yamal, Oyarzabal and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedri/baBG8QuI/"]Pedri[/a] did stunt Spain’s momentum somewhat, but with the task at hand long since completed, De la Fuente took advantage of having the luxury.[/p][image alt="Spain's Marc Cucurella celebrates with Dani Olmo, Pedri and teammates after Saudi Arabia's Hassan Altambakti scores an own goal" id="423a99ea-aba8-4488-962f-bb9d455c8946" credit-line="Reuters / Bernadett Szabo" guid="8c45379c-8a46-46b9-9124-f525c4cf8013" original-width="4020" original-height="2813" /][p]One of his substitutes, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/torres-ferran/AVAVLaLt/"]Ferran Torres[/a], fluffed a great chance to add a fifth when he broke in behind and skewed an effort wide. The Spanish frontman was even more unlucky in stoppage time when he converted [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/porro-pedro/nTebDzHC/"]Pedro Porro[/a]’s cross from close range, but a lengthy VAR check ruled he’d strayed a fraction offside.[/p][p]That decision was inconsequential on the result, as Spain secured a victory which puts them firmly back on track to win the group, while Saudi Arabia’s chances of progressing now hinge on beating Cape Verde on matchday three. [/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oyarzabal-mikel/dQ1P695O/"]Mikel Oyarzabal[/a] (Spain)[/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="31c8eb63-2888-482d-9ae2-5b029632e19d" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="a7464b72-ec1c-4ee5-8778-ca14f4ac01f2" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/saudi-arabia-biSY8ox4/spain-bLyo6mco/summary/stats/?mid=CASh7QGF"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]