Spain goalscorers: Yamal (10), Oyarzabal (21, 24), Altambakti (49 OG)
Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal made an immediate impact on his return to the Spain starting XI against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta.
Having been held to a shock 0-0 draw by tournament debutants Cabo Verde in their first fixture, La Roja were immediately onto the front foot, pinning their opponents back in their final third.
Luis de la Fuente’s side were three goals to the good before the first hydration break, with Oyarzabal crossing for Yamal to slide home the opener, before capitalising on Saudi Arabia’s inability to clear their lines against the waves of pressure with two close-range finishes of his own in the space of three minutes.
Oyarzabal twice came close to a first-half treble, clipping the top of the bar with an audacious attempt following a poor clearance, before driving across the face of goal and narrowly wide.
There was little let-up after the interval, despite the withdrawal of both goalscorers at half-time, and the unfortunate Hassan Altambakti could only deflect into his own net after Mohammed Alowais’ save from Marc Cucurella’s volley. Spain now know a point from their final fixture against Uruguay will be enough to secure progress to the Round of 32, while Saudi Arabia must regroup before the tackle Cabo Verde.
Lamine Yamal (18 years and 343 days) has become the eighth youngest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, and the second youngest for Spain at the tournament. Only Gavi's goal against Costa Rica in 2022 was scored at a younger age (18 years and 110 days).
"That was the plan, to play for a half and get some rest, but above all to help the team. The first game wasn't really us, but now we've arrived and we're going for more. It turned out the way we wanted - being 3-0 up allowed me to rest, so it was perfect. Drawing a match that you feel you should win stings. It made us think a lot, and it helped us approach this match exactly how we wanted to. I’ve always dreamed of being at a World Cup, and being able to score in my first match as a starter is a dream. I watched the last World Cup from a classroom, so being able to score here with my mum and my family in the stands is a dream." Lamine Yamal (Spain forward)
Sources: FIFA Official
