Spain vs Austria: Oyarzabal and Porro decide it for Spain

Spain beat Austria 3-0, but the scoreline only tells part of the story. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice, Pedro Porro got his first international goal and Marc Cucurella had a hand in all three goals as Spain kept their World Cup clean sheet run going.

Oyarzabal and Porro take centre stage

Oyarzabal was the best player on the pitch. He scored in the 36th and 89th minutes, finished with a 9.3 rating, and had four shots on target in 94 minutes. That is the kind of output that changes the shape of a knockout game fast, especially when Spain were already controlling the contest.

Porro's contribution was just as clean, even if it came from a different place. He scored Spain's second in the 66th minute with a header from Alejandro Baena's cross, and his 8.2 rating reflects how decisive that moment was. It was his first goal at international level, and it turned a useful lead into a comfortable one.

Cucurella's role and Spain's control

Cucurella was involved in all three Spain goals, and he also had a goal disallowed before half-time. There is a small dispute around the exact count of his direct involvement in the match report, but the cleanest reading is that he delivered two assists and was central to the attacking sequence throughout.

Spain's control did not come from endless chances. Their 9% shot conversion rate shows how important Oyarzabal and Porro were once the openings appeared. Unai Simón went 518 minutes without conceding a goal at the World Cup, a 36-year-old Spain record, and Spain are still yet to concede at this tournament after the win over Austria.

The broader picture is even stronger. Spain are now 34 games unbeaten inside 90 minutes in competitive internationals, which is a long run to maintain while still finding decisive performers in the final third. David Alaba captained Austria, but Spain handled the game from the first half through to the late finish.

Luis de la Fuente's side did not need a classic all-action attacking display to get through. They needed players who could punish the moments that mattered, and Oyarzabal and Porro did exactly that on 2 July in Spain vs Austria.