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Yamal returns to scoring in Spain as the European champions resume their World Cup campaign.
Inspired by Lamine Yamal, Spain traveled until a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Group H, as Mikel Oyarzabal restored his record with two goals and Luis de la Fuente’s side got their chance after a torrid opening to the World Cup.
Yamal opened the scoring in the 10th minute on Sunday and Oyarzabal, who did not register a touch in Monday’s opening half-hour against Cape Verde, scored twice in quick succession as Spain ended the game at halftime.
Their goal soon after didn’t open the floodgates again, as Spain used the opportunity to convert and rest the scorers.
De la Fuente celebrated his 65th birthday, and Yamal, whose only goal in the past two months came as a substitute against Cape Verde, brought life to the team that returned to the Atlanta Stadium.
Huge cheers greeted Yamal’s first touch, twisting and turning his marker before playing in a cheeky cross that was set up by Abdulelah Al-Amri, Saudi Arabia’s goal scorer in their 1-1 draw with Uruguay.
The opening goal came with Oyarzabal sending a through ball into the box, and Yamal was there to get in behind and score his first World Cup goal.
After working in vain in their opening game, Spain relaxed after the goal, began to set the Saudi defense at will, and the second goal came from a corner.
Dani Olmo returned the ball and mixed it up, and after the Saudis failed to clear it, Aymeric Laporte nodded to Oyarzabal, who headed the ball into the net.
Three minutes later, Spain went in again with a superb goal. Pedro Porro floated through the area and the ball barely touched the ground before finding the net.
Marc Cucurella’s pass found Olmo, who entered the six-yard box for Oyarzabal to volley in, where the striker proved that given the right task, it was the Spaniard to deliver.
Spain replaced Yamal with Oyarzabal in the second half, but continued where they left off when the Saudi goalscorer blocked Cucurella’s volley for a corner and the ball bounced off Hassan Al-Tambakti and into the net.
The European players continued to create opportunities, but it was clear that they took their foot off a day when even Vozinha, the 40-year-old champion keeper of Cape Verde, could have faced this type of Spain, who looked behind them.
Spain move up to four points in the standings, while Saudi Arabia remain one after two games each. The other teams in the group, Cape Verde and Uruguay, will meet on Sunday in Miami.
Oyarzabal said he was happy to get the win and that he did well after criticizing his performance against Cape Verde.
“It’s not about showing myself. I’ve been saying that I’m loved by my friends, the teacher, my colleagues every day. This is important to me,” he told reporters.
“People talk outside. We know how football works, but we have to be open.”
Yamal said it was “a dream” to score in the World Cup.
“I watched the last World Cup when I was in class, so to be able to score here with my mother and my family in the stands is a dream,” he said.
