Spain routs Saudi Arabia 4-0 for first World Cup win, Yamal and Oyarzabal dominate

Early goals silence the doubters

After a scoreless draw against Cape Verde in the opener, Spain needed a response. Head coach Luis de la Fuente made four changes, handing starts to Pedro Porro, Álex Baena, Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo, and the team delivered from the outset. Yamal opened the scoring in the 10th minute, arriving at the far post to convert a low cross from Oyarzabal. At 18 years and 343 days, the Barcelona winger became the seventh youngest scorer in World Cup history, joining a list topped by Pelé.

Oyarzabal’s three-minute brace

The lead grew quickly through the Real Sociedad forward. From a corner on 21 minutes, Oyarzabal was sharpest in a crowded box to make it 2-0. Almost immediately, a team move down the right ended with a header from Olmo setting up Oyarzabal to nod in his second. He had two goals and an assist inside 24 minutes, turning a tense evening into a one-sided affair.

“Quem percebe de futebol valoriza muito [o Mikel Oyarzabal]. O impacto dele na seleção é enorme. Provavelmente, não há outro jogador no mundo com tamanha influência numa seleção. Hoje, conseguiu 2 golos e uma assistência em 24 minutos.”

Controlled second half

The match was effectively decided by the break, and De la Fuente replaced Yamal at halftime as a precaution following the muscle injury that had limited him since April. Spain added a fourth goal four minutes after the restart when Saudi defender Hassan Al-Tambakti turned a cross into his own net. Ferran Torres later had a goal disallowed for offside after a VAR review, but the outcome was never in doubt.

“Estou satisfeito por ajudar a equipa. No outro dia não toquei tanto na bola nem tive uma participação tão ativa. Estou feliz. Penso sempre no sucesso da equipa. Sinto-me querido e valorizado pelos meus companheiros e pelo selecionador.”

Group H reshaped

With four points from two games, Spain leads Group H, followed by Uruguay and Cape Verde with one point each before their evening match. Saudi Arabia stays on one point, now with a negative goal difference. The result brings Spain closer to a place in the round of 16 and silences, at least temporarily, the criticism that flared after the Cape Verde draw.