Spain Fight Back From Early Goal to Beat Tunisia 3-1
June 19, 2006
Spain booked their ticket for the second round with a pulsating 3-1 win over Tunisia in Group H in Stuttgart on Monday.
One mistake by the Spanish defense in the eighth minute was all Tunisia's Ziad Jaziri needed to work his way through three defenders before crossing to unmarked Jawer Mnari.
Spanish keeper Iker Casillas fended off Mnari's first attempt but wasn't up to stopping the deflection, and the Tunisian midfielder easily slotted the ball home.
Spain, who crushed Ukraine 4-0 in their first match, struggled initially against Tunisia's tougher style of play and astute defense although they dominated possession throughout the game.
Up by a pace-setting goal, Tunisia fought off continuous attacks from Fernando Torres and David Villa and looked ready to claim a surprise win against the Group H favorites as the teams headed into the break.
Spain coach Luis Aragones brought more life into the offense with subs Cesc Fabregas and Raul when the teams retook the field, and they proved to be the players who turned the match around.
Tunisia keeper Ali Boumnijel couldn't cleanly handle a hard, low shot from Fabregas in the 72nd minute, and Raul was there to put the rebound into the net and equalize for Spain.
Five minutes later, striker Fernando Torres, who had been dangerous in the Tunisian penalty area all game, touched a long pass from Fabregas around an undecided Boumnijel at the top of the box and had no problem directing the ball into the empty net and putting Spain on top.
After being held down near the goal by Tunisian substitute Alaeddine Yahia, Torres beat the Tunisian keeper from the penalty spot, squeezing a weakly hit ball between Boumnijel's body and the ground in the dying minutes of the match.
The victory leaves Spain -- who are bidding to get past the quarter-finals for the first time in 56 years -- needing only a draw to come top of the group ahead of Ukraine. Spain next play Saudi Arabia while Ukraine take on Tunisia in the fight for the group's second qualifying spot.