Torres and Villa mark Spain milestones in style
Friday, September 7, 2012
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Spain 5-0 Saudi Arabia
Fernando Torres celebrated his 100th cap for Spain in Pontevedra as David Villa made a goalscoring return to the international scene.
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Spain will begin the defence of their FIFA World Cup title against Georgia next Tuesday in high spirits after the recently crowned European champions - captained by Fernando Torres - comfortably defeated Saudi Arabia in Pontevedra.
Torres failed to find the net in what was his 100th appearance for La Roja but that mattered little in the end as goals from Santi Cazorla, Xavi Hernández, the returning David Villa and a Pedro Rodríguez double left the home supporters at the Estadio Municipal de Pasarón more than satisfied.
Despite featuring eight changes to the side that started the victorious UEFA EURO 2012 victory against Italy last July, La Roja's approach to their latest friendly remained the same with Frank Rijkaard's visiting side under constant attack from their hosts. Recently on target in Arsenal FC's Premier League win away to Liverpool FC, Santi Cazorla registered his second goal in five days to get Spain underway, the attacker lifting a shot high into the net from close range after goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah parried Pedro's shot into the attacker's path.
Real Betis Balompié midfielder Beñat Etxebarria went close to doubling his team's lead moments later when his low drive from distance connected with an upright but it wasn't long before Spain did score again with Pedro benefitting from Cazorla's through pass before expertly chipping in. The former Villarreal CF and Málaga CF attacker subsequently found the crossbar with an arcing effort from the right while after the restart substitute Xavi Hernández netted his 12th international goal with a finely taken free-kick.
Having spent the past ten months in the international wilderness as he recovered from a broken leg, substitute Villa made a scoring comeback from the penalty spot after Sayyaf Al-Beeshi tripped Nacho Monreal in the area. Pedro then rounded off the scoring on a perfect night for the hosts, the FC Barcelona forward meeting David Silva's defence splitting pass with a first-time finish past Abdullah.
