Substitute Cesc Fabregas initiated a hat-trick move in Vienna on Thursday, assisting twice, to send his Spanish team into the Euro 2008 final on a thrilling 3-0 run over surprising semifinalists Russia at rain-invaded Ernst Happel Stadium.
A 50-minute score by Xavi Hernandez and the goals from Daniel Guiza at 73 and David Silva on 82 minutes, all after nice one-two efforts with Fabregas, sent Spain to Sunday's final against Germany.
A player (bottom) of Russia vies with Spain's Xabi Alonso during the semifinal match at the Euro 2008 Championships in Vienna, Austria, on June 26, 2008. Spain won 3-0.
The Spaniards have not tasted a sweet European victory for 44 years since they last lifted the European Cup in 1964 after beating the USSR.
Luis Aragones' Spanish side earned a blessing in disguise as the tournament's top scorer David Villa was forced off earlier in the first half due to injury and replaced by Arsenal generalist Fabregas, who assisted all the three goals of Spain with marvelous dance of nice efforts.
The 69-year-old coach replaced Villa with Fabregas 34 minutes into the game after the Vallencia striker injured his calf taking the 29-minute free kick. The substitution had once been deemed a major blow of the night to the Spaniards.
Spain's Carlos Marchena (R) vies with Russia's Roman Pavlyuchenko during the semifinal match at the Euro 2008 Championships in Vienna, Austria, on June 26, 2008.
Fabregas, however, came out the most important player on the pitch for Spain's victory over the rapid Russians.
A lovely move launched by the Arsenal playmaker, just 21 years old, short into the second half saw Spain thread it from Xavi to Torres to Iniesta, who looked up before playing it into Xavi's path against the error-committing Russian midfielder.
Twenty-three minutes later, Guiza chested the ball down after a superb one-two with Fabregas, who cleverly dunked it over Ignashevich, and slotted it over Akinfeev and into the back of the net.
Silva then scored another superb goal at the 82nd minute. After a succession of passes, Iniesta scooped a lovely ball towards Fabregas on the left and the latter slid an eye-of-a-needle pass to Silva, who side-footed home brilliantly.
The Spaniards, however, didn't occupy any advantage on ball possession until 19 minutes into the second half, as the youngster-packed Russia fought bravely and patiently to play on a nailbiting first half.
With both sides trying to make thorough possession on ball, the free-flowing attacking football that many had hoped for had yet to materialize before break, with both defenses tightly marking the creative players and strikers on each side.
Roman Pavlyuchenko could have become the only player to score in three consecutive matches at the tournament as the Spartak Moscow striker's free kick from central edge of the box on 16 minutes just went a slim high over the bar.
The Russians have made history after knocking out the Netherlands 3-1 to make it to the semifinals.
(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2008)
