Spain had few problems booking
their ticket to the World Cup finals with a 1-1 draw against Slovakia in
Bratislava on Wednesday night.
Spain's 5-1 win in the first leg of the play-offs in Madrid on Saturday meant
the game was unlikely to present too many headaches for the visitors, and
although Felipe Holosko gave Slovakia the lead early in the second half, David
Villa's first goal for his country meant Spain's qualification was never in
doubt.
Spain coach Luis Aragones made four changes from the side which performed so
well at the weekend.
Xabi Alonso replaced the suspended David Albelda, while Ruben Baraja, Vicente
and Antonio Lopez came in for Jose Antonio Reyes, Asier del Horno and Saturday's
hat-trick hero Luis Garcia.
Slovakia coach Dusan Galis watched the game from the stands following his
sending off at the Vicente Calderon stadium, but he brought Jan Durica,
Vratislav Gresko, Matej Krajcik and Szilard Nemeth into his team.
As in Madrid, the game took place in pouring rain, and Spain began the game in
total control, with Alonso looking comfortable in front of the defence.
Xavi created a chance after 24 minutes with a delightful pass to Fernando
Torres, who controlled the ball well in the area before blazing over the bar.
Nemeth wasted his side's first chance, side-footing wide from inside the area
after the ball came in from the right.
Holosko gave Slovakia the lead after 49 minutes.
The substitute, who had come on after the break, took advantage of a
misunderstanding in the heart of the Spain defence to latch on to a loose ball
and beat Iker Casillas with a left foot shot from 15 yards.
Baraja almost levelled matters two minutes later, but his left foot shot flew
inches wide, while Torres should have done better from a corner just before the
hour mark.
Spain finally levelled after 71 minutes when Vicente found substitute Fernando
Morientes on the left and the Liverpool striker elected to send a low ball
across to David Villa, whose first time shot beat keeper Kamil Contofalsky.
Teams:
Slovakia Contofalsky, Skrtel, Durica, Gresko (Cech 77),
Kratochvil, Zabavnik, Hlinka, Krajcik, Hodur (Holosko 46),
Nemeth (Fodrek 83), Vittek.
Subs Not Used: Kelemen, Petras, Valachovic, Reiter.
Booked: Durica.
Goals: Holosko 50.
Spain Casillas, Pablo, Antonio Lopez, Puyol, Salgado, Alonso,
Baraja, Xavi (Sergio 74), Vicente, Raul (Morientes 65),
Torres (Villa 61).
Subs Not Used: Reina, Marchena, Luis Garcia, Rivera.
Goals: Villa 70.
Agg (2-6)
Att: 23,587
Ref: Markus Merk (Germany).
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