PUERTO LA CRUZ, Venezuela, June 8, (Agencies): David Villa and Xabi Alonso netted long-range free kicks from near-identical positions to help Spain to a 3-0 win over Venezuela in a friendly international.
The world and European champions’ victory, to which Pedro contributed a 20th-minute goal, was their 39th in 44 matches under coach Vicente del Bosque, putting him one clear of his immediate predecessor Luis Aragones to set a national record.
Del Bosque said the team’s end of season tour, on which they also recorded a 4-0 victory over the United States in Boston, had been a resounding success and the squad was in great shape ahead of the next Euro 2012 qualifiers in September and October.
“The important thing was to end the season on a high note after a good year,” he said in an interview with Spanish television.
Striker Villa gave the visitors the lead in the fifth minute when his curling shot from a central position 35 metres out beat goalkeeper Renny Vega low to his left. It was Villa’s 47th goal in 75 internationals, extending his lead over Raul (44) at the top of the scoring chart.
After Pedro made it 2-0 with a deflected shot from Villa’s assist, Alonso’s strike moments before halftime found a gaping hole in the defensive wall and Vega couldn’t get down in time to save, this time to his right.
“It was a tough match because of the state of the pitch and the heat,” Pedro told Spanish TV. “We are all looking forward to a rest now when we can recharge the batteries.”
In the second half, Spain continued to dominate but their play, dictated by David Silva, was more direct. Silva and fellow substitute Fernando Torres missed good chances.
Cameroon 0, Russia 0
Cameroon held Russia to a 0-0 draw and almost won with a late header that hit the post in a friendly in the Alpine city of Salzburg.
Cameroon’s Aurelien Chedjou’s struck the woodwork towards the end of a largely uneventful match which was interrupted with two minutes remaining when several fans ran onto the pitch.
The Indomitable Lions were licking their wounds after a goalless draw against visiting Senegal on Saturday left their African Nations Cup qualifying hopes hanging by a thread.
Russia, meanwhile, had enjoyed a 3-1 win over Armenia in a Euro 2012 qualifier at the weekend that kept them level on points with the leaders in their group.
Russia’s Dutch coach Dick Advocaat made wholesale changes from Saturday’s match, giving several players their debuts, and his side looked livelier in a first half played in pouring rain.
Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak sent a low close-range shot wide early on and Alan Dzagoyev also missed the target from the edge of the box midway through the half.
But the African team came alive towards the end of the game, creating several chances of their own.
Pierre Webo, who replaced captain Samuel Eto’o at halftime, saw his powerful header tipped over by Russia’s second-choice goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev while Chedjou’s header hit the post less than a minute later.
“We had a few chances and should have won this game,” Advocaat said. “But I have to be satisfied with our effort.” There had been some light relief when one of the intruders who ran on to the pitch kicked a ball in the Cameroon goal to the amusement of the players, fans and Austrian referee Thomas Einwaller before they left the arena with no security in sight.
It was the first game between the two countries since Russia thrashed Cameroon 6-1 in the 1994 World Cup when striker Oleg Salenko set a record with five goals in a match at the finals.
Cameroon have had a turbulent week with fans rioting after Saturday’s home draw with Senegal in which Eto’o missed an 87th minute penalty all but dashing their hopes of qualifying.
Ireland 2, Italy 0
In Liege, Belgium, Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni put one over his compatriots on Tuesday as his side beat a largely-dominant Italy 2-0 in a friendly here.
However, while the Italians wasted what few chances came their way the Irish scored with both theirs through Keith Andrews in the 35th minute and then Simon Cox added a second on the stroke of full-time.
Both Trapattoni and his Italian counterpart Cesare Prandelli opted to rest several of their first choice players after they won their respective Euro 2012 qualifiers at the weekend.
Trapattoni, one of the most successful club coaches of all time but who failed to reproduce that in a four year spell as Italy coach, was delighted with his side’s display.
“We showed a really good mental attitude,” said the 72-year-old.
“We really wanted this win. It is just how I like to see my players perform.
“Italy had the majority of the possession, combined well but my players showed the necessary discipline.
“Football is not just about the ‘show’, it is also and maybe even more so the achievement of ones goals,” added Trapattoni, who is one of only two coaches to win league titles in four different countries.
Prandelli for his part was disappointed by his side’s performance.
“My team took a step backwards this evening,” said Prandelli, who replaced Marcello Lippi after the ‘azzurri’ woeful defence of their world title last year when they went out in the group stage.
“The players forgot one essential thing: in order for one’s individuality to shine you have to play as a team.
“Today, my boys did quite the opposite. Each one of them tried to find the answer on his own. And we saw what the result of that was,” added the 53-year-old.
The Italians went on the attack from the outset in a match played in what seemed like a rather strange venue but which is home to a large Italian community.
Cheered on by 20,000 tifosi the Italians - captained by the ageing talent of Andrea Pirlo one of the few survivors from their 2006 World Cup triumph - came at the Irish from everywhere but only created their first serious chance in the 27th minute when Giampaolo Pazzini fired just past the far post.
Antonio Nocerino had an identical chance two minutes later but failed to improve on his team-mate’s effort.
The Italians paid for their profligacy as journeyman midfielder Andrews broke the deadlock with a great effort from 20 metres 10 minutes before half-time.
The Italians were also hit hard by a storm that left the surface wet and greasy and impeded their more attractive and fluent passing game while they also met a wall of solid Irish defenders which proved impassable.
They were duly hit on another counter-attack right at the death when Cox slotted home to give the Irish victory.