World Cup qualifier

Spain 5 - San Marino 0

Spain easily beat Europe's lowest ranked team San Marino in this World Cup qualifier, although the result fell far short of expectations in the end. Having scored nine the last time these two sides met, and with the youth side getting fourteen the night before, everybody was expecting a big scoreline. Things looked promising when Raúl hit the post in the first minute, but the first goal didn't come until the quarter hour mark when Joaquín latched on to a loose ball to beat Gasperoni. And although the Betis winger rattled the woodwork again, it took another quarter of an hour before Fernando Torres picked up a pass from debutant Iván De la Peña to turn his marker and score the second.

Raúl made it three just before the break when he headed Joaquín's cross back over the keeper, but then left the field to give up his place to David Villa, also playing his first match at full international level. It was another half time substitute Guti though who scored the next goal, heading home a cross from Torres midway through the second half. Guayre was given his first run out a quarter of an hour from the end, and two minutes later Joaquín set up Del Horno for him to steer in the fifth. But the crowd would have liked to see more, and the visitors even had the audacity to spend the last few minutes in Spain's half of the field. The win at least takes Luis Aragonés's side up to second in the table, still two points behind Serbia who they meet next month. (09.02.05)