Cesar Gelabert of Spain volleys during the group D match between Spain and Korea DPR at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi | Photo: Getty imagesKochi: A wasteful Spain beat North Korea 2-0 in their final Group D game to qualify for the pre-quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.
Mohamed Moukhliss handed Spain an early lead in the fourth minute, while Cesar Gelabert scored the second in the 71st after the European champions missed numerous chances.
Spain finished second in the group with six points from three games. Brazil, who beat Niger 2-0 in Goa, topped the group with nine points. Niger, who ended up with three points, could qualify for the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams while North Korea crashed out of the tournament without registering a single goal or a point.
As expected Spain, continuing with the 4-2-4 combination, started off aggressively. Gelabert let one rip in the third minute, but it flew over the Korean bar. Gelabert made amends the very next minute as he gave a perfect ball to his strike partner Moukhliss who shot home.
Spain continued to control the game, while the North Koreans defended in numbers. Moukhliss was in the thick of things again in the 18th as he shot over off a free-kick.
Missed opportunities
La Roja were unlucky as Sergio Gomez failed to hit the target in the 21st.
Spain were relentless and Juan Miranda had a narrow miss as his header off a corner kick hit the post in the 28th. Six minutes later, the Koreans again had a close shave as Gelabert's volley missed the mark.
There was more good fortune for Korea as Ferran Torres's left-footer ricocheted off the post in injury time.
The script continuted in the second half as well. Miranda rattled the Korean crossbar in the 58th as dame luck came to the Asian side's rescue yet again.
Spain continued to miss chances as captain Abel Ruiz headed over from close range in the 68th.
Gelabert finally doubled Spain's lead three minutes later.
To cap a miserable night for Korea, substitute Paek Kwang Min was red carded for a second booking in the 84th.
Ruiz squandered a golden chance to make it 3-0 in the final minutes of regulation time.
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