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Spain 3 - 1 Tunisia - Spain Qualify With Second-Half Goals From Raul & Two From Man Utd Target Torres Cancel Out Mnari's OpenerSubmitted by Scott Harkness on Mon, 19/06/2006 - 21:52.
Spain have come from behind to convincingly beat Tunisia 3-1 in their second World Cup Group H match in a rainy Stüttgart on Monday and have now guaranteed their qualification for the last sixteen in the World Cup Finals. Tunisia took a surprise lead through Joahar Mnari in the 8th minute, but second-half goals from Raul and Fernando Torres saw Spain maintain their unbeaten record. Spain were the more attacking team from the start with shots just off-target from Luis Garcia and David Villa, but Tunisia were always dangerous on the break and forged the lead after some great work from Ziad Jaziri inside the penalty area. Jaziri fought his way into the penalty area and the ball eventually found it’s way from Jaziri, through the tangle of legs to Mnari, whose initial shot was saved by Iker Casillas, but he tucked away the rebound to the delight of the travelling Carthage Eagles fans. Spain had two free-kicks soon after but Villa’s attempt was punched away and Xavi's free-kick from the right was headed over by defender Sergio Ramos. Tunisia’s Hatem Trabelsi made a great block inside the area to prevent Spain's Fernando Torres from latching on to a scoring opportunity and then started causing problems down the Spanish right-wing. Both sides then had good chances with Anis Ayari's free-kick from 20 yards being well saved by Iker Casillas and at the other end Spain's Fernando Torres with a dangerous cross. Xabi Alonso had a cracking effort from 30 yards out but the ball went two feet wide of Ali Boumnijel's left-hand post. From then until the end of the half, Spain were peppering the Tunisia goal with Fernando Torres' curling shot being tipped over for a corner by Ali Boumnijel and from the corner Tunisia's Anis Ayari made a goal-line headed clearance from Xabi Alonso's header. Tunisia went into half-time with a surprise 1-0 lead against Spain, who were lacking the space that they had in the match against Ukraine and were always under the threat of a Tunisian counter-attack. Liverpool’s Garcia was replaced by Barcelona’s Raul, with Marco Senna making way for Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas at half-time and within minutes the Arsenal man had a shot from 20 yards that keeper Ali Boumnijel could only parry away. The rain was really coming down by this point and Boumnijel was forced into another punch from a long-range free-kick from fullback Mariano Pernia. Pernia had another long-range shot in the 61st minute that flashed just wide of the Tunisian goal that almost got a tap-in from a Tunisian defender. But Tunsisia were defending well, with Bolton’s Rahdi Jaidi and subtitute Alaeddine Yahia defending well, with Zied Jaziri massive both in defence and attack. Spain began to get frustrated, with some long-range shots that were well off-target and couldn’t utilise their greater advantage in possession. With 20 minutes to go Spain finally got the breakthrough they deserved after a shot from Fabregas was blocked by Boumnijel and Spain’s record goalscorer Raul knocked in the rebound. Just five minutes later Spain doubled their score and took the lead after Boumnijel, who had been excellent throughout and was earning his 50th international cap, made a howler, coming out of his goal to try and make a clearance and left Fernando Torres an easy pass into the open goal to make it 2-0. Tunisia brought on Haykel Guemamdia for the last ten minutes to try and further their attacking options but it was Spain that were pressing harder. Tunisia were awarded their first corner of the match in the 82nd minute, but was wasted and as time progressed Spain continued to make breaks on goal, with Torres being denied by some great goalkeeping from Boumnijel. Spain were awarded a penalty in the last minute of normal time when Yahia pulled Torres down in the area. Torres tucked away the penalty through the arms of Boumnijel to make it a resounding 3-1 win to La Furia Roja and ensuring qualification for the last sixteen in the World Cup Finals. in favorites | email this page
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