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Attendance: 39,375
Australia national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 23, 2014 at 5pm UK
 
Spain national football team

0-3

FT(HT: 0-1)
Villa (36'), Torres (69'), Mata (82')

Spain ease past Australia

Spain exit the World Cup on a winning note by beating Australia 3-0 in their final match in Group B.

Spain have gone out of the World Cup on a winning note by beating Australia 3-0 in their final match in Group B.

Spain looked the more dangerous early on, though it took them until the 20-minute mark to create their first real chance as David Villa fired off target at the back post after being picked out by Andres Iniesta.

The reigning champions started to come to life after that, and they came close to making the breakthrough when Fernando Torres almost converted Koke's cross.

The Spaniards finally took the lead on 36 minutes as Villa cheekily flicked in Juanfran's cross after the full-back had been sent clear with an incisive ball from Iniesta.

David Villa of Spain scores his team's first goal with a back heel past Mathew Ryan of Australia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Australia and Spain at Arena da Baixada on June 23, 2014 © Getty Images

They had a great chance to make it 2-0 in the final minute of the first half when Koke's powerful effort hit the post before going out.

Australia came out for the second half in positive spirits, and they managed to limit the Spaniards from causing more damage in front of goal.

Mathew Leckie was the Aussies' biggest threat at the other end as his robust approach gave Spain plenty to think about, but Tim Cahill's absence through suspension seriously hampered their chances in attack.

Spain's forward Fernando Torres celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during a Group B match between Australia and Spain at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 23, 2014© Getty Images

However, La Roja doubled their advantage on 69 minutes as Torres was played through by Iniesta before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

Vicente del Bosque's side then made sure of their first points at the tournament when Juan Mata came off the bench to fire home with eight minutes left.

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Spain pose for a team photo prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Australia and Spain at Arena da Baixada on June 23, 2014
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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