SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) - Argentina ended Spain's
12-match unbeaten run on Wednesday with goals by Kily Gonzalez
and Mauricio Pochettino in a 2-0 win.
Spain, fielding an under-strength side after their goalless
draw with Brazil on Saturday, were caught out by two sharp
pieces of thinking in the second half.
Gonzalez opened the scoring on 63 minutes, the Valencia
midfielder sliding in to beat Spanish keeper Jose Molina from
the edge of the area after Ariel Ortega's original shot had been
blocked.
Pochettino wrapped up victory 13 minutes from time as he
reacted first to a loose ball in the area to jab in from close
range.
The match, played before a 65,000 crowd at Seville's new
Olympic stadium, was a case of unlucky 13 for Spanish coach Jose
Antonio Camacho. He came into the game with a run of 10 wins and
two draws in his 12-match reign.
Argentina looked the more dangerous side throughout, with
the energetic Ariel Ortega seeing plenty of the ball.
But it was Spain who created the first clear chance after a
brilliant piece of work from Alfonso Perez. The Real Betis
striker, receiving a long ball forward, controlled it
effortlessly on his chest before slipping a pass to Julen
Guerrero only for the Basque to mishit his shot.
Claudio Lopez then flashed a shot just wide from the edge of
the area after Ortega's pass had found him in space.
Perez was taken off after 21 minutes after picking up an
injury and his replacement Ismael Urzaiz almost broke the
deadlock within a minute of coming on.
Urzaiz, drifting in from the left wing, struck a fierce shot
from well outside the area that German Burgos just managed to
turn round the post.
Ortega twice blasted over at the start of the second half as
Argentina began to take control of the game, with Javier Zanetti
and Gonzalez starting to press forward menacingly.
Hernan Crespo was presented with a golden chance on 60
minutes as a mistake from the Spanish defence let him slip
through into the penalty area. Jose Molina saved well at the
striker's feet.
That was a taste of things to come as Argentine struck twice
in 14 minutes, with the Spanish defenders conspicuous by their
absence each time.
Spain:
Molina - Ferrer, Nadal, Paco, Aranzábal -
Guardiola, Luis Enrique (Etxeberría 46'), Julen
Guerrero (Valerón 65'), Mendieta (Morientes 80') -
Raúl (Munitis 46'), Alfonso (Urzáiz 21')
Argentina:
Burgos - Vivas, Ayala, Pochettino, Sensini - Simeone, Zanetti,
Ariel Ortega (Solari 86'), Kily González - Claudio López (Gustavo
López 76'), Hernán Crespo (Berizzo 92')
Goals:
Gonzales 63', Ponchettino 77'
Referee:
Giorgios Psychomanis
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