Spain captain Abel Ruiz celebrates after scoring a goal against Niger during the Group D match against Niger at Jawaharlal Nehru Staduim, Kochi | Photo: Josekutty PanackalKochi: European champions Spain came up with a thoroughly professional display to dismantle Niger 4-0 in a Group D game of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.
Spanish captain and star striker Abel Ruiz scored a brace, while Cesar Gelabert and Sergio Gomez added one each.
The game was settled more or less in the first half itself as Spain carried a 3-0 lead into the break.
Spain, who lost to Brazil 1-2 in their opener, have three points from two matches. They meet North Korea in their final group game in Kochi on Friday. African debutants Niger, who beat North Korea 1-0, need to regroup ahead of their final group fixture against a formidable Brazil in Goa on Friday.
Barcelona B player Ruiz opened his tally in the competition as he received a pass from Juan Miranda and slotted home in the 21st minute to put La Roja ahead.
The Spanish captain doubled the lead in the 41st off a rebound after latching onto a free-kick intelligently rolled into the penalty area by Gomez.
Gelabert, who was brought into the starting eleven, added one more in injury time.
Early pressure
Despite Spanish coach Santi Denia fielding a 4-2-4 formation, it was all Niger in the early moments of the game as they forced three corner kicks.
Habibou Sofiane made an excellent run from midfield to the rival penalty area, but Spain averted danger by conceding a corner kick in the third minute.
Spain made their first real attempt in the tenth minute when Mohamed Moukhliss gave a fine ball to Ruiz, but his shot was blocked by Niger goalkeeper Khaled Lawali.
Gelabert missed a golden chance when his feeble shot was saved by Lawali in the 16th.
However, the Spanish slowly started to take control of the game and Ruiz made it count in the 21st.
Ruiz's second goal and Gelabert's strike in injury time killed the game as a contest.
Some plucky goalkeeping by Lawali kept Spain at bay for much of the second half, before Gomez scored one off a powerful long-ranger in the 82nd.
