Torres hat-trick sees Spain fly 4-0 up in 26 minutes
RUSTENBURG, Jun 14: Fernando Torres struck a sensational hat-trick in the first 16 minutes of Spain's opening duel of the 2009 Confederations Cup against shell-shocked New Zealand in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
Torres also had a hand in the goal by Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas which saw the European champions seize a 4-0 lead by the 25th minute. The ease with which they ripped New Zealand apart raised ever more urgent questions about the status of football in Oceania.
Liverpool striker Torres grabbed his first goal in the sixth minute. He took a short pass from Fabregas and dummied over the ball to create space for himself on the edge of the penalty area before arc-ing his up beyond helpless keeper Moss's outstretched left hand.
Seven minutes later Torres pushed Spain further towards a world record sequence of 33 games unbeaten when he converted from close range after a razor-sharp left-wing raid engineered by Liverpool team-mate Albert Riera and David Villa.
Three more minutes and Torres rose above the All Whites' central defence to head home another left-wing cross from Riera. Torres thus claimed the third hat-trick in the history of the Confederations Cup after previous trebles by Brazil's Ronaldo and Romario - both, by coincidence, against New Zealand's neighbours Australia.
Torres, who struck the goal which defeated Germany to earn Spain their European crown last summer in Vienna, thus took his tally of international goals to 22 in his 63rd appearance for his country.
He was involved in the build-up which led to Fabregas scoring simply, again from close range, to establish a four-goal advantage and render the outcome of the match a foregone conclusion.
The closest New Zealand came in the first half was a curling free kick from Dave Mulligan, just before the interval, which the diving Iker Casillas tipped wide for a corner.
RUSTENBURG, Jun 14: Fernando Torres struck a sensational hat-trick in the first 16 minutes of Spain's opening duel of the 2009 Confederations Cup against shell-shocked New Zealand in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
Torres also had a hand in the goal by Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas which saw the European champions seize a 4-0 lead by the 25th minute. The ease with which they ripped New Zealand apart raised ever more urgent questions about the status of football in Oceania.
Liverpool striker Torres grabbed his first goal in the sixth minute. He took a short pass from Fabregas and dummied over the ball to create space for himself on the edge of the penalty area before arc-ing his up beyond helpless keeper Moss's outstretched left hand.
Seven minutes later Torres pushed Spain further towards a world record sequence of 33 games unbeaten when he converted from close range after a razor-sharp left-wing raid engineered by Liverpool team-mate Albert Riera and David Villa.
Three more minutes and Torres rose above the All Whites' central defence to head home another left-wing cross from Riera. Torres thus claimed the third hat-trick in the history of the Confederations Cup after previous trebles by Brazil's Ronaldo and Romario - both, by coincidence, against New Zealand's neighbours Australia.
Torres, who struck the goal which defeated Germany to earn Spain their European crown last summer in Vienna, thus took his tally of international goals to 22 in his 63rd appearance for his country.
He was involved in the build-up which led to Fabregas scoring simply, again from close range, to establish a four-goal advantage and render the outcome of the match a foregone conclusion.
The closest New Zealand came in the first half was a curling free kick from Dave Mulligan, just before the interval, which the diving Iker Casillas tipped wide for a corner.
.
Comment