Alba double sees Spain top group
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E-mail Xinhua, June 24, 2013
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Godfrey Oboabona and Victor Enyeama of Nigeria can't stop Jordi Alba of Spain scoring 3-0 during the Confederations Cup group match between Spain and Nigeria at the Castelao stadium in Fortaleza, Brazil, 23 June 2013. |
Jordi Alba scored a goal in each half as Spain secured top spot in Group B of the Confederations Cup with a 3-0 victory over Nigeria on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Recife, Palermo striker Abel Hernandez netted four times in Uruguay's 8-0 defeat of Tahiti.
Uruguay will meet Brazil in Wednesday's first semifinal in Belo Horizonte while Spain face Italy in a repeat of the Euro 2012 final in Fortaleza on Thursday.
"It's not normal for me to score twice. I think it's the first time it has happened in my career," Alba said after the match, adding the players had struggled in the tropical heat.
"They (Nigeria) had several opportunities to score but we were tight in defence, especially Victor Valdes in goal. It was a tough match physically but the conditions are the same for everybody. Now we are looking forward to playing against Italy."
Alba gave Spain the lead in the fourth minute at the Castelao stadium when he combined with Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta and weaved through a maze of defenders before unleashing a low shot past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
Nigeria then took the initiative but failed to capitalize when the opportunities arose.
First Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel fired over the crossbar and then Sunday Mba's shot was finger-tipped away by Valdes.
Then it was Spain's turn to be wasteful. Roberto Soldado missed twice in five minutes when he had only the keeper to beat and Fabregas fired against the post after Soldado's cross from the right.
Substitute Fernando Torres then doubled the lead when he met Pedro's pass with a diving 63rd minute header, and Alba made it 3-0 two minutes from time by rounding Enyeama after a Spain counterattack.
At Arena Pernambuco, Hernandez bagged a hat-trick before halftime while Liverpool's Luis Suarez came off the bench to score twice in the final 10 minutes.
Botafogo playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro and Bologna midfielder Diego Perez were also on the scoresheet for the Celeste. Endi
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