Spain continues perfect campaign as England looms
Spain's perfect start to the Nations League continued as the world champion breezed past 10-man Czechia 2-0 at epet Arena.
La Roja, who are already qualified for the quarter-finals, extended their Group A3 lead with a fifth straight win thanks to goals in either half from Alex Baena and Marc Pubill.
A red card for Czechia captain Ladislav Krejci in between Spain's two goals made the task somewhat easier, though the visitor was without Barcelona stars Lamine Yamal and Rodri due to injury.
Spain dominated from the start without causing Czechia too many issues early on, until Ferran Torres and Marc Cucurella both fired off target.
A Dean Huijsen header was then fumbled and regathered by Matej Kovar before Pau Cubarsi thumped a powerful effort off the crossbar from Cucurella's improvised, scooped cross.
Spain got the breakthrough from the penalty spot after Lukas Ambros was penalised for a handball after a VAR review, and Baena confidently dispatched from 12 yards in the 39th minute.
Fabian Ruiz curled a stunning effort against the right post before the break, and Spain started the second half on the front foot as well.
Yeremy Pino raced onto a long ball over the top from Unai Simon and fired past Kovar while one-on-one less than two minutes into the second half, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review.
Czechia threatened a comeback, with Adam Hlozek thumping a header off the crossbar 68 minutes in, but it all unravelled four minutes later as Krejci was sent off for a last-man foul on Roberto Fernandez after another VAR intervention.
Spain turned up the heat again after that, and their pressure eventually told in the 96th minute when substitute Pubill picked Tomas Soucek's pocket on the edge of the box to slot home seconds after Fernandez had struck the foot of the right post.
