Captain Sergio Ramos was the Saturday night winner with an elegant detail in Spain’s 2-1 win at home over Norway.
the Team from The Iberian Peninsula was otherwise in trouble against the norwegians, who equalized in the second half, but Real Madrid, the captain scoring from the penalty spot ensured the Spanish victory.
With the victory, the spaniards a fine start to qualification for next year’s european championship-finals, where Spain is one of 12 host countries in the jubilee year.
Spain has, like Sweden and Malta three points after the first round. Sweden beat the previous Saturday Romania, while Malta defeated Faroe islands.
Spain went into the match against Norway as the favorite, and looking at the shots statistics, lived the spaniards clearly up to favoritværdigheden.
They had several great chances, and, particularly, the Atlético Madrid striker Alvaro Morata failed to send the ball into the goal despite several big deals.
It did compatriot Rodrigo to return, when he received the ball from Jordi Alba on the edge of the small field. Rodrigo scooped the ball into the goal for 1-0 after 16 minutes.
Norway stood, deep in his own half and was the most dangerous of transitions. One of them should, in turn, also have resulted in a goal.
AIK Stockholm striker Tarik Elyounoussi got served the ball in the totally free position in front of goal, but his awkward sliding clearance sent the ball away from the dangerous area.
In spite of the great Norwegian chance dominated Spain, which was in front 1-0 at the break.
Sergio Ramos with a little more precision extended to 2-0 after a little time, but the defender knocked the ball past the goal.
the Spaniards exploited its chances, and it punished the Norway.
Italy beat Finland. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix.
Bjørn Johnsen was midway in the second half of the overthrown in the Spanish field, and the referee pointed to the straffepletten.
Joshua King levelled the game with a flat and hard kick to 1-1, and then lurked the surprise.
But at the other end it went wrong for Norway. Goalkeeper Rune Jarstein shed a little clumsy Morata after a queer replacement.
the following penalty Ramos winner with a so-called “Panenka”, when he kicked deep into the ball and put it in the middle of the goal.
Italy defeats the Finnish ‘League-team’:
In Italy, was the home team a good start on the european championship qualification, when the team beat Finland 2-0 in group J. Nicolo Barella and Moise Kean scored the italians ‘ goal.