Euro 2012

Qualifying group I

Spain 2 - Czech Republic 1

Spain: Casillas; Arbeloa, Segio Ramos, Piqué, Capdevila (Cazorla 57'); Xabi Alonso (Fernando Torres 46'), Busquets, Xavi; Jesús Navas (Marchena 85'), David Villa, Iniesta. 4-3-3. Czech Republic: Cech; Pospech, Sivok, Hubnik, Kadlec; Hübschman, Rosicky; Plasil, Rezek (Necio 84'), Pudil (Hlousek 77'); Baros. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 29. Plasil. Picked up Rosicky pass and fired low shot in off Casillas's near post.
1-1. 69. Villa. Collected Iniesta through ball and dummied past marker to beat Cech.
2-1. 73. Villa (penalty). After Rezek brought down Iniesta inside penalty area.

Spain came from a goal down to beat the Czech Republic 2-1, a result which keeps up their 100% record in the Euro 2012 qualifiers. Iniesta and Villa both tested Cech early on, but with half an hour on the clock Plasil picked up a pass from Rosicky to beat Casillas with the visitors' first shot at goal. Del Bosque brought on Fernando Torres at the break, but the visiting keeper was hardly troubled until twenty minutes from the end, when Villa collected a through ball from Iniesta to dummy past his marker and fire in a shot which took a slight deflection off Sivok before entering the net. It was an all time record 45th goal for the striker, and just four minutes later he scored his second of the night from the penalty spot after Rezek brought down Iniesta with a clumsy challenge. A fourth win in a row for "La Roja", and a victory next Tuesday in Lithuania will virtually ensure them a place in next summer's finals.