FIFA World Cup: Oyarzabal brace guides Spain into last-16 with 3-0 win over Austria

A clinical brace from Mikel Oyarzabal powered a dominant Spain to a resounding 3-0 victory over Austria at the SoFi Stadium on Friday, sealing their place in the World Cup Round of 16. This marks Spain’s first victory in a World Cup knockout match since their historic title-winning campaign in 2010.Right-back Pedro Porro also got on the scoresheet in the second half as La Roja delivered their most impressive performance of the tournament, mesmerizing the sellout crowd with their trademark possession and attacking creativity.Spain’s defensive record remains flawless, having yet to concede a goal in the tournament. Goalkeeper Unai Simón cruised to his fourth consecutive clean sheet without needing to make a single save, as a relentless Spanish backline prevented Austria from registering a single shot on target.The European champions unleashed their full attacking prowess after a first-half hydration break. In the 36th minute, Real Sociedad captain Oyarzabal found himself unmarked in the penalty area and hammered home a sharp pass from Marc Cucurella to break the deadlock.Spain doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Álex Baena break dropped a perfectly weighted cross to an incoming Porro, who buried an emphatic header to celebrate his first international goal. Oyarzabal then capped off the masterclass in the 89th minute, latching onto another clever Cucurella assist to slot home his second of the night.Austria fought bravely, with goalkeeper Alexander Schlager making six crucial saves, while defender David Alaba pulled off a spectacular goal-line clearance to deny 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal in the dying minutes. However, Ralf Rangnick’s side was ultimately outclassed.With this victory, Luis de la Fuente’s men have extended their unbeaten run to 35 competitive matches. The comfortable win firmly reinstates Spain as heavy title contenders after disappointing exits in the last three editions of the tournament.Spain will now travel to Dallas on Monday to face the winner of the blockbuster clash between Portugal and Croatia in the Round of 16.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.