Spain go four points clear with 3-0 win
A late blitz from Spain helped them to a flattering 3-0 win over a resilient Armenia in their Euro 2004 Group Six qualifier on Wednesday.
A late blitz from Spain helped them to a flattering 3-0 win over a resilient Armenia in their Euro 2004 Group Six qualifier on Wednesday.
Striker Diego Tristan broke the deadlock in what had been an evenly-balanced match with a deft finish on 63 minutes and defender Ivan Helguera, who was returning to the side after a one-match ban, headed in powerfully from a corner soon after.
Substitute Joaquin then produced a classy chipped finish three minutes into injury-time to ensure the win that did little justice to their much-improved opponents.
The result leaves Spain four points clear of Greece and Ukraine at the halfway mark in the qualifying competition and well on course for a place in next year's finals in neighbouring Portugal.
The win did not come easily, though, and a skilful and hard-working Armenia side had several chances to snatch the lead before Tristan finally opened the scoring.
"Armenia created problems for us," Spain coach Inaki Saez told radio station Onda Cero after the match. "But once we scored they lost their way and it is always a good sign if you can win when you aren't playing that well."
Armenia had the best scoring chance in the early exchanges when midfielder Artur Petrosyan raced through the centre of the Spanish defence and sent his left-foot shot just wide of the post on eight minutes.
Spain responded with a promising move involving winger Joseba Etxeberria and Tristan, but the Deportivo Coruna striker's final header was well saved by keeper Roman Berezovsky.
The Armenians, who claimed their first win in more than three years with a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland at the weekend, were well-organised in defence and began to worry their opponents as they played some neat passing football in midfield.
Spain became increasingly frustrated, but finally looked as though they might score when they took the more direct route after Raul had whipped in a quick cross to the far post just before the half hour mark.
Tristan looked to have wrong-footed Berezovsky with his header, but the Armenia keeper produced a spectacular one-handed save to deny the Deportivo striker.
Armenia grew in confidence after the break and Artavazd Karamyan gave Spain another fright when he fired off a vicious 20-metre drive in the 53rd minute, but he was denied a certain goal by an outstanding diving save from Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas.
But the match was turned shortly after the hour mark when substitute Vicente raced down the left wing and sent in a sharp cross to the centre of the area where Tristan was on hand to direct the ball into the far corner.
Armenia barely had time to recover when Spain hit them again.
Tristan went within a whisker of extending his side's lead with a sharp shot, but Helguera scored from the ensuing corner when he powered a header into the ground, over Berezovsky and into the net.
The two goals settled Spain's nerves and they added a third when Raul slipped a neat pass to Joaquin, who finished off with a delightful chip over the keeper's head deep into injury time to produce a flattering final scoreline.