Spain collected their third Group 5 win in three with a comfortable victory over Estonia in Tallin. Vicente Del Bosque’s side put in an impressive first-half performance hitting two goals in the space of five minutes, before making the game safe with a third mid-way through the second-half.

Fernando Torres was very participative during the World Cup qualifier, almost scoring on a couple occasions and earning Spain the penalty from which Villa scored his country’s second. The striker also played a key part in Spain’s second as Puyol headed the ball into an empty net after Torres’ effort had struck the bar.

The ‘Red Fury’ dominated their hosts from the kick-off and it was a surprise that Spain had to wait more than half an hour to break the Estonia resilience.

Torres carved out his country’s first chance following a good move on the right-hand side. The Liverpool forward took one touch before letting fly, but his shot flew just wide of the upright.

The Spain number ‘9’ was at the centre of his side’s next move, but this time his effort was well-saved by Londak in the Estonia goal.

The deadlock however was finally broken in the 33rd minute as Juanito rose well to head home a Xavi free-kick. The defender’s header left Londak no chance in the home goal.

The Spanish national team doubled their lead from the spot five minutes later. Fernando Torres was hauled down in the box by Barengrub as the striker was about to connect with a right-wing cross from Villa.

The second-half was a more even contest with Estonia having a series of chances to score following a mix-up in the Spain box after a corner. Puri and Vassiljev both had efforts blocked before Lindpere shot wide of Casillas’ goal from the edge of the area.

Shortly after that attack, Vassiljev then had probably Estonia’s best chance of the game. The forward rounded Casillas but his shot from an acute angle floated just over the bar.

Spain made it 3-0 following another well-worked set-piece. Fernando Torres rose well in the box but his powerful struck the bar before bouncing kindly for Puyol to head into an empty net from one yard out.

The last twenty minutes saw little goal-mouth action as Spain held on for all three points. The ‘Red Fury’ next face Belgium in the mid-week World Cup qualifier in Brussels.


- Match Stats: Estonia 0-3 Spain

Estonia: Londak, Kruglov, Piroja, Barengrub, Jaager, Lindpere, Dmitrjev, Vassiljev, Punk, Kink (Puri, 58), Voskoboinikov (Klavan, 73)

Booked: Barengrub, Piroja, Kink

Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos (Iraola, 53), Puyol, Juanito, Capdevila, Xabi Alonso, Xabi, Cazorla, Iniesta (Riera, 79), Villa (Cesc, 70), Torres

Booked: Iraola

Goals: Juanito, 33. Villa 37 (pen), Puyol, 68