Mikel Oyarzabal’s low cross from the left evaded Saudi Arabia defender Hassan Al Tambakti before being tapped in at the far post by Lamine Yamal in the 10th minute of the game, Yamal became only the second player aged 18 or younger – after Pele in 1958 – to open the scoring in a World Cup competition.
Having tried and failed to get goals in their opening game, Spain relaxed after the goal, and began to find spaces the Saudi defence at will, and the second goal came from a corner. Dani Olmo sent the ball back into the mix, and after the Saudis failed to clear it, Aymeric Laporte nodded down to Oyarzabal, who bundled the ball into the net.
Twenty four minutes into the match, Marc Cucurella’s hooked pass found Olmo, who headed into the six-yard box for Oyarzabal to tap it in on the volley to make it the striker’s second of the night, as the striker proved that given the right service, he is Spain’s man to deliver. The Real Sociedad forward nearly completed his hat-trick with 10 minutes of the first half remaining, but he could only strike the crossbar after intercepting Al-Owais’ stray pass.
Lamine Yamal and Oyarzabal were both taken off at the interval, but their withdrawals did little to disrupt Spain’s rhythm as De la Fuente’s team continued to pin Saudi Arabia back in the second half.
Al-Owais was equal to Marc Cucurella’s powerful effort three minutes after the restart, only for the ball to rebound off Al Tambakti and into the back of the net to make it 4-0.
The European champions advances to 4 points in the standing. They will face Uruguay in the last game of group H
