Skip to main content

Llorente heads Spain past stubborn Lithuania

Spain shrugged off a rash of injuries and sickness to key players, including Xavi, Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso, and easily dominated the ultra-defensive visitors in the Group I match in coach Vicente del Bosque's home town of Salamanca.

Striker David Villa, who needs one goal to equal Raul's Spain scoring record of 44, and defender Sergio Ramos both hit the post in the first half before Llorente struck two minutes after the break, leaping to nod in a Ramos cross.

"These were three very important points for us," Del Bosque said in a television interview.

"We lacked shape in the first half but we improved and we were deserved winners."

Victory in their first home game since winning the World Cup in July put Spain top of Group I on six points from two matches following last month's 4-0 win in Liechtenstein.

Ramos almost gave Spain the lead in the 21st when he met Andres Iniesta's corner but his header bounced back off a post.

Lithuania had a rare chance four minutes before the break but Tomas Danilevicius's shot was straight at Iker Casillas and the Spain captain palmed the ball away.

Del Bosque threw on Aritz Aduriz and Pablo Hernandez in place of Villa and Llorente with just over 10 minutes left, Aduriz winning his first cap, and both substitutes went close to extending Spain's lead.