We played against a better side: Nigeria coach

Spain set up semi-final date with Italy in Confederations Cup.

FORTALEZA: Spain set up a Confederations Cup semi-final reunion with Euro 2012 final victims Italy after beating Nigeria 3-0 on a steamy afternoon in Fortaleza to secure top spot in Group B.

Vicente del Bosque’s side needed just a point to confirm a place in the last-four, but they made particularly sure, courtesy a fine brace from Jordi Alba and a 62nd-minute header by substitute Fernando Torres.

The world and European champions will now face Italy, who they crushed 4-0 in last year’s Euro 2012 final, in the second semi-final in Fortaleza on Thursday, a day after Brazil meet Uruguay in Belo Horizonte.



Nigeria were ultimately left to rue last Thursday’s damaging 2-1 defeat by Uruguay, having begun their Confederations Cup campaign with a breezy 6-1 thrashing of Tahiti.

“We played against a better side, a team who’ve been together for a long time,” said Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi.

“It’s a learning process for us, it’s good. We have to continue from where we stopped tonight, and build on that.”

Uruguay rout Tahiti, face Brazil in semis

Uruguay secured their place in the last-four with an 8-0 drubbing of Tahiti, featuring the fastest goal in the competition’s history.

The Confed Cup record-breaker at Recife’s Arena Pernambuco was Abel Hernandez, the Palermo striker heading in off Nicolas Lodeiro’s corner after just 79 seconds.

He went on to bag four, with Diego Perez, Lodeiro and Luis Suarez with a double, joining him on the scoresheet.

With this result following their record 10-0 loss to Spain and 6-1 defeat to Nigeria, Tahiti take their leave of the competition while Uruguay go on to face hosts Brazil in Belo Horizonte tomorrow.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2013.

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