World Cup

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World Cup | Qualifiers

Oct 15, 2013 at 8pm UK

Spain
2-0
Georgia

Negredo (26'), Mata (61')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Spain qualify for World Cup

By Subhankar Mondal, Reporter | 15 October 2013

Alvaro Negredo and Juan Mata are on target for Spain as they beat Georgia 2-0 at home to book their place in next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.

Spain have defeated Georgia 2-0 at the Carlos Belmonte in Albacete to book their place in next year's World Cup finals.

The victory in their final qualifier on Tuesday meant that La Furia Roja finished top of Group I with 20 points from eight matches.

Vicente del Bosque's side were the dominating team right from the start and created their first chance after eight minutes when Akaki Khubutia cleared a Jesus Navas cross off the line.

Alvaro Negredo headed Andres Iniesta's cross over the Georgian crossbar just minutes later and then had an audacious overhead kick denied by Giorgi Loria.

However, the Manchester City striker made no mistake in putting the reigning European and world champions ahead in the 26th minute when he turned in Iniesta's cross from close range.

Alvaro Negredo of Spain celebrates scoring their opening goal during the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier match against Georgia on October 15, 2013 © Getty Images

Georgia could have restored parity just past the half-hour mark when Nika Gelashvili shot on target, but Iker Casillas made a good save.

Negredo should have doubled his tally five minutes from the half-time interval when he found himself with the ball in a good position inside the visitors' penalty box, but he smashed his effort off the post.

Spain continued to press on for their second goal of the evening and got it just past the hour mark.

Juan Mata, who had come on for Pedro in the 58th minute, made no mistake in finding the target from close range after latching on to a loose ball

Mata could have added his second in the 75th minute but his low effort was pushed wide by Loria. However, that had no effect on the Spaniards booking their place in next year's World Cup in Brazil.