Spain ease past Austria 3-0 as Oyarzabal strikes twice at the World Cup

Spain are through to the World Cup Round of 16 after a 3-0 win over Austria at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice and Pedro Porro adding a header.

Spain were frustrated early when Cucurella’s effort from a corner was ruled out for a foul on Schlager in the 29th minute. The opening goal arrived in the 36th minute, when Marc Cucurella’s cross from the left found Oyarzabal inside the box, who side-footed calmly past goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

Baena struck the crossbar with a 25-yard free-kick in first-half stoppage time, while Schlager also denied Oyarzabal’s 33rd-minute effort at his near post.

Austria’s best chance came early in the second half when substitute Sasa Kalajdzic agonisingly headed over from close range. Spain doubled their lead in the 66th minute, with Baena delivering an excellent cross from the left for Porro to head home his first international goal.

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David Alaba cleared Yamal’s effort off the line before Oyarzabal wrapped it up in the 89th minute, slotting into the bottom-right corner from Cucurella’s pass. Spain created 23 shots with 10 on target, as Austria managed five shots with none troubling the goalkeeper.

Yamal, named the game’s MVP, was characteristically direct afterwards. “The World Cup starts now,” he said.

Spain are yet to concede a single goal at this tournament and are 34 competitive internationals unbeaten inside 90 minutes. They face the winner of Thursday’s match between Portugal and Croatia at Dallas Stadium in the Round of 16.