Morata scores four in crushing Spain victory
Thursday, September 5, 2013
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Austria 2-6 Spain
Top scorer at the 2013 finals in Israel, Álvaro Morata found the net four times as the holders started their qualifying campaign in ominous fashion.
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Álvaro Morata, top scorer at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals in Israel this summer, was on target four times as holders Spain demonstrated why they will be the team to beat once again by putting six past Austria in their opening 2015 qualifier.
Daniel Carvajal set Julen Lopetegui's side en route to an emphatic Group 4 win with a third-minute opener, finishing off Suso's assist. After Florian Kainz had passed up a chance to equalise, Real Madrid CF forward Morata registered his first goals of a productive night, scoring either side of the quarter-hour mark.
Three down by the 17th minute, Austria soon reduced their arrears via Kainz's shot through a crowd of bodies. That proved a mere blip for La Roja for in added time at the end of the first half Morata completed his hat-trick.
After Kainz's free-kick was deflected in by Carvajal for an own goal with seven minutes remaining, Morata claimed his fourth. Carvajal then made amends in stoppage time, teeing up Jesé Rodríguez for Spain's sixth.