Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their World Cup Group H match in Atlanta on Sunday, with Lamine Yamal scoring on his return to the starting lineup.
Yamal, 18, opened the scoring after 10 minutes when he finished Mikel Oyarzabal’s low cross at the back post. Oyarzabal then scored twice in three minutes to put Spain 3-0 up after 24 minutes.
Spain had entered the match under pressure after a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in their opening game. Yamal’s first start in two months, after a hamstring problem, helped restore pace to Spain’s attack.
Spain added a fourth goal in the 49th minute. Marc Cucurella’s shot was saved by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais before the ball bounced off defender Hassan al-Tambakti and went in.
The result moved Spain top of Group H with four points from two matches. Cape Verde can join Spain on four points if they beat Uruguay in Miami later Sunday.
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Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitao Brito, known as Bubista, said his team wanted to play “without fear” against top opponents. Goalkeeper Vozinha is also set to have his mother, Ana Candida Evora, watching in Miami after she received a US visa.
