Pedro and Jordi Alba lead Spain to win in Belarus

Pedro, four goals / FOTO: Arxiu (CARMELO RUBIO)
A goal from the full back and a Pedro hat trick gave Spain their second win in the World Cup qualifiers

Spain brushed aside Belarus 0-4 on Friday night with a goal from Jordi Alba and a hat trick from Pedro. Del Bosque started with five Barça players -Alba, Busquets (who played at centre half), Cesc and Pedro, who all played the full 90 minutes, as well as Xavi who was subbed on 75 minutes by David Villa. Iniesta also came off the bench to play the last 35 minutes.

Early goal

Spain’s first goal had the Barça stamp on it, with Xavi, Pedro and Jordi Alba combining for the full back to strike home on 12 minutes, though there was a suspicion of an off side, which the ref didn’t spot. Twenty minutes later, Pedro made it two, latching onto a good pass from Silva to beta the keeper.

Iniesta and Villa off the bench

The Barça man was also the star of the second half, chipping the keeper for his second after Xavi had supplied the killer pass and four minutes later getting his hat trick after Cesc had put him through. Iniesta and Villa both came on in the second half and Villa came close to making it five.

The win is Spain’s second in the World Cup qualifying group and leaves them on six points ahead of the crunch game with France in Madrid on Tuesday.