Sport

Ruthless Spain maul Liechtenstein to lay down marker

Spain started their World Cup qualifying campaign with a crushing 8-0 win over Liechtenstein, laying down a marker in Group G with a ruthless second-half display on Monday.

Reuters

>>, Reuters

Published : 06 Sep 2016, 03:12 AM

Updated : 06 Sep 2016, 03:12 AM

Diego Costa scored his first goal for Spain in almost two years to put Julen Lopetegui's side ahead in the 10th minute in their first competitive game under their new coach and Sergi Roberto doubled the lead in the 55th.

Costa got his second while David Silva and substitute Alvaro Morata also got braces and Vitolo opened his international account as the former world champions ran riot.

Costa was making his first start for Spain in 2016 and he was the focus of the pre-match build-up having netted once in his previous 11 appearances since switching nationalities from Brazil in 2014.

He needed only 10 minutes to open the scoring, however, rising high to head Koke's hanging free kick into the near corner.

The entrance of substitute Nolito for Thiago Alcantara at the start of the second half livened up the home side up and it was the Manchester City forward who laid the ball on for Roberto to grab his first international goal.

The floodgates had opened for Spain, the 2010 world champions who lost in the last 16 of this year's European Championship.

Silva was soon in on the act, adding to his double in the friendly against Belgium last week by turning in Vitolo's cross from close range.

Barely a minute later, Silva repaid the favour by teeing up the Sevilla forward to mark another impressive display for his country with a goal.

Spain only grew hungrier and Costa wanted another bite. He effortlessly turned two defenders in the area before firing at goalkeeper Peter Jehle's right foot, calmly nodding in the rebound for the fifth goal.

Costa came off to a standing ovation but his replacement Morata threatened to upstage him with two strikes in under a minute, slamming in at the near post before striking the ball past the hapless Jehle from the edge of the area.

Silva had a goal harshly ruled out as stoppage time approached but the City playmaker grabbed his second a minute later with a crisp shot.