Spain cruised into the last 16 of the World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Austria in the round of 32 in Los Angeles.
Mikel Oyarzabal finished off a slick move to open the scoring in the first half, moments after Marc Cucurella was controversially denied the opener after another soft foul on a goalkeeper was given.
But in truth, it didn’t matter with La Roja dictating proceedings from start to finish, with Pedro Porro’s first international goal on 66 minutes doubling their advantage and taking the game away from Austria.
A number of more chances went begging before Oyarzabal grabbed his second of the game from another Cucurella assist to top their best performance of the tournament so far.
Spain will play either Croatia or Portugal in the last 16 as they hunt for a second World Cup triumph – and judging by that performance they will be a team most will want to avoid in the latter stages.
Oyarzabal and Porro make Spain dominance count
The first shot on goal took just over a minute when a quick turnover allowed Lamine Yamal to dirve forward at goal but his left-footed strike at the edge of the box was easily collected by Alexander Schlager.
A Dani Olmo volley looked goalbound after Pedro Porro’s cross a few moments later but the Barcelona midfielder’s strike was blocked by his own team-mate, with a Spain header from a resulting corner deflected just wide by the head of Kevin Danso.
Austria settled and found their first opening when a teasing Marcel Sabitzer cross from the left was inches away from being nodded in by Michael Gregoritsch.
Some Yamal and Pedri magic was almost matched by a lovely touch by Olmo but Stefan Posch was on hand to clear away and from the resulting corner Spain thought they had found the opener.
The corner was swung into a crowded six-yard box which Schlager punched clear into the path of Cucurella who slammed it home, but it was controversially ruled out despite no clear foul from any Spanish player on the keeper, in a decision which had shades of the one which Germany were on the wrong end of against Paraguay.
Mikel Oyarzabal then had his first flash of goal with a brilliant left-footed strike which Schalder got a strong hand on to tip wide.
La Roja continued to assert their dominance and they found the breakthrough in the 36th minute after a typically nice exchange saw Cucurella pull it back for Oyarzabal to stroke the ball home for his third goal of the World Cup.
The Spain pressure did not let up before the end of the half, with a stunning Alex Baena free-kick crashing off the post before it fell down to Yamal, who couldn’t poke the ball past Schlager in what was another good save from a goalkeeper who was undoubtedly keeping his side in the tie.
Spain pick apart Austria to cruise through
It was more of the same after the break after a brilliant last-ditch tackle prevented Olmo getting a close-range shot away before a Rodri strike flashed just wide of the post.
Sasa Kalajdzic was brought on to spark some life into Austria and with his first touch he headed just over the bar after a cross was swung into the big striker.
It was a reminder that Austria were still in the game while it was still 1-0, but just before the second hydration break it was 2-0 when another patient and methodical build-up from Spain found Baena who lifted the ball into the box for Porro to head home.
The best move of the match from Austria came with just over 10 minutes left when a number of intricate touches on the edge of the box allowed Carney Chukwuemeka to strike at goal but the former Chelsea man sliced it wide.
Another cross was swung in by Austria which Posch met from the right-back position but his header floated just wide.
Austria’s push to get back into the game saw gaps open up for Spain to exploit and, on two occasions, substitute Ferran Torres lacked the final touch to create the chance on goal.
Yamal very nearly had his moment at this World Cup as another great move saw the ball fall to the teenager in the box but his shot on the turn was well blocked on the line by David Alaba.
Another goal seemed to be coming, and that did finally come with two minutes of normal time remaining when Cucurella once again found Oyarzabal in acres of space, and the Real Sociedad forward made no mistake with his one-touch finish to add some flourish to the victory.
