DOHA: 2010 champions Spain started their FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign in style as they thwarted Costa Rica 7-0 in the second Group E clash here at Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday.
Spain announced themselves in the ongoing FIFA World Cup with a bang as they blew away struggling Costa Rica to hand them the biggest defeat of this year’s mega event thus far.
Luis Enrique’s side displayed their domination over Costa Rica for the majority of the match and held possession for a whopping 82 per cent in comparison to Costa Rica’s 18.
The domination converted into the first goal in just 11 minutes when Dani Olmo calmly guided the ball to put the 2010 champions up front which was also their 100th goal in all world cups.
Olmo’s strike in the 11th minute was also Spain’s earliest goal in a world cup game after 2002.
Forward Marco Asensio then doubled Spain’s lead 10 minutes later as he swept the ball home off Jordi Alba’s low cross from the left edge.
The European side were in hot form at the Al Thumama Stadium and a goal from Ferran Torres on penalty put them in a commanding position before the half-time mark.
Torres then scored again after the break to retain Spain’s dominance before Gavi and Carlos Soler joined the scoring in the regulation to add further to Costa Rica’s misery.
Alvaro Morata’s stoppage-time strike was the cherry on top for Spain as they went on to claim the biggest victory of the ongoing mega event thus far, surpassing England, who blasted six goals against Iran.
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