Spain are through to the
Euro Under-21 Championship final after a comfortable 3-0 victory over
Norway at the Netanya Municipal Stadium in Isreal.
The current holders were unplayable in the first
half but only went into the break with the one goal to show for it and
it took two late efforts to seal their place in the final, where they
will play either Italy or the Netherlands.
The tournament favourites started brightly and
could have been ahead twice through Isco in the opening 20 minutes. The
Malaga midfielder went close inside ten minutes when he created some
space for himself on the edge of the Norway area before curling his
effort just wide.
He was denied once more after 16 minutes after
being set up by Cristian Tello. Isco took his team-mate’s pass inside
the area and evaded his marker with some tidy footwork before hitting a
fizzing shot on the
spin. Orjan Nyland Haskjold in the Norway goal provided a stunning one-handed stop to deny the much sought-after Spaniard.
It wasn’t the only time Norway’s shot-stopper was
called into action in the opening half as effort upon effort had to be
kept out by the Molde custodian.
He produced a fine stop from Tello after Isco had
returned the favour to set up the Barcelona forward, diving low to keep
out a rasping effort that was sneaking inside the post and moments later
a fine double stop frustrated his opponents further yet.
Martin Montoya fired in the initial effort after
controlling a clearance following a corner. The Barcelona full-back’s
thunderous effort could only be palmed into the path of Rodrigo by
Nyland Haskjold, but the keeper showed superb reactions to get back to
his feet and tip the Benfica striker’s scuffed effort onto the post.
Fredrik Semb Berge then appeared to catch Marc
Bartra with a clumsy tackle as the defenders raced to retrieve the loose
ball in the area, but it was the Barcelona centre-back who was
penalised for diving and subsequently booked.
Spain kept knocking at Norwegian goal and
eventually it gave way right on the stroke of half-time. A corner was
delivered into the Norway area and after being headed straight into the
air, Bartra rose highest to nod the ball down into the path of Rodrigo, the Benfica forward providing a clever finish with the outside of his left boot to flick the ball beyond Nyland Haskjold.
The timing of the goal was cruel on Norway, and
especially Nyland Haskjold, who put in an incredibly first half display
to keep the Spanish attacking trio at bay, but the Scandinavians came
out in the second half with renewed purpose and almost got themselves on
level terms.
Markus Henriksen had an opportunity early in the
second half but he took too long to take aim and his effort was
delfected over the bar for a corner as Norway pressed.
Stefan Standberg then had two chances to draw his
side level from set pieces. The centre-back nodded over from a corner
when he rose highest in the Spanish area and then fired wide when the
ball landed at his feet in the six-yard-box from a free kick.
Norway were made to pay for those misses and just three minutes from time, Isco
confirmed Spain’s place in the final. The Malaga magician danced his
way into the area before poking the ball into the top right corner with
the outside of his right boot.
Substitute Alvaro Morata then
sealed the victory with a well taken third. The Real Madrid forward
burst clear and, after rounding Nyland Haskjold, clipped the ball in
from an acute angle to put a gloss on the scoreline.
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