Euro 2020 qualifying: Alvaro Morata helps Spain edge past Malta
Alvaro Morata took his tally to 15 goals in 29 games for Spain
Atletico Madrid's on-loan Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata scored both goals as Spain laboured to a Euro 2020 qualifying win in Malta.
With 173 places separating the nations in the world rankings, an experimental Spain side controlled possession but struggled to break down the hosts.
Morata slid in from a tight angle in the first half, adding a second with a firm header from Jesus Navas' cross.
Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was barely needed as Spain remain unbeaten.
The three-time European champions, who were knocked out in the last 16 at Euro 2016, started their qualifying campaign with a narrow 2-1 home win against Norway on Saturday.
But they were without their manager Luis Enrique on the sidelines in Malta after the former Barcelona boss travelled back home due to "a family matter of the utmost urgency".
"We ask for discretion and respect for his privacy," the Spanish Football Federation added in statement made earlier on Tuesday.
Instead, Enrique's assistant Robert Moreno took charge of the team - which showed eight changes from Saturday's narrow win over Norway.
Only skipper Sergio Ramos, forward Marco Asensio and striker Morata kept their places and the new-look side - which contained six players aged 24 or under - lacked fluency in the final third.
Malta, ranked 182nd in the world and rated as the third-worst nation in Europe, deserve credit for their organisation and application, while goalkeeper Henry Bonello also produced several stunning saves.
In the other Group F games, Norway earned a dramatic 3-3 draw against Scandinavian neighbours Sweden, while Romania thrashed the Faroe Islands 4-1.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Malta
1Bonello
4Borg
2CaruanaSubstituted forMicallefat 85'minutes
22Muscat
19Zerafa
16MintoffSubstituted forMifsudat 70'minutes
15CorbalanBooked at 72mins
6Guillaumier
8Fenech
7MbongSubstituted forMuscatat 65'minutes
10Nwoko
Substitutes
3Micallef
5Grech
9Mifsud
11Muscat
12Vella
13Vella
14Montebello
17Camilleri
18Kristensen
20Grech
21Muscat
23Haber
Spain
13Arrizabalaga
20Roberto
15Ramos
12Hermoso
3Gayá
11Canales
16Hernández
6SaúlSubstituted forNavasat 65'minutes
10Asensio
7MorataSubstituted forRodrigoat 79'minutes
14BernatSubstituted forMuniainat 56'minutes
Substitutes
1de Gea
2Gómez
4Martínez
5Busquets
8Ceballos
9Rodrigo
17Mata
18Alba
19Muniain
21Parejo
22Navas
23López
Referee:
Andrew Dallas
Match Stats
Home TeamMaltaAway TeamSpain
Possession
Home16%
Away84%
Shots
Home2
Away23
Shots on Target
Home1
Away7
Corners
Home0
Away7
Fouls
Home10
Away7
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Malta 0, Spain 2.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Malta 0, Spain 2.
Posted at 90'+5'
Attempt missed. Sergio Ramos (Spain) header from very close range is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Mario Hermoso with a headed pass following a corner.
Posted at 90'+4'
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Karl Micallef.
Posted at 90'+3'
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Zach Muscat.
Posted at 90'+3'
Attempt saved. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt missed. Michael Mifsud (Malta) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Juan Corbalan.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Rodrigo Moreno (Spain).
Posted at 90'+1'
Steve Borg (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 89'
Attempt saved. Joseph Zerafa (Malta) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Sergio Ramos (Spain).
Posted at 89'
Joseph Zerafa (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 86'
Attempt missed. Sergio Canales (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
Posted at 85'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
SubstitutionPosted at 85'
Substitution, Malta. Karl Micallef replaces Jonathan Caruana because of an injury.
Posted at 84'
Delay in match Jonathan Caruana (Malta) because of an injury.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Sergio Canales (Spain).
Posted at 83'
Paul Fenech (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 80'
Offside, Spain. Sergio Canales tries a through ball, but Jesús Navas is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 79'
Substitution, Spain. Rodrigo Moreno replaces Álvaro Morata.
Posted at 77'
Attempt saved. Sergio Ramos (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 75'
Offside, Malta. Kyrian Nwoko tries a through ball, but Michael Mifsud is caught offside.
Goal!Posted at 73'
Goal! Malta 0, Spain 2. Álvaro Morata (Spain) header from the left side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jesús Navas with a cross.
BookingPosted at 72'
Juan Corbalan (Malta) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 72'
Sergio Canales (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 72'
Foul by Juan Corbalan (Malta).
Posted at 70'
Mario Hermoso (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Steve Borg (Malta).
SubstitutionPosted at 70'
Substitution, Malta. Michael Mifsud replaces John Mintoff.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Mario Hermoso (Spain).
Posted at 69'
Rowen Muscat (Malta) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 67'
Attempt missed. Álvaro Morata (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sergio Canales with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 67'
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Juan Corbalan.
SubstitutionPosted at 65'
Substitution, Malta. Rowen Muscat replaces Joseph Mbong.
SubstitutionPosted at 65'
Substitution, Spain. Jesús Navas replaces Saúl Ñíguez.
Posted at 65'
Attempt missed. José Gayá (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
Posted at 63'
Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mario Hermoso.
Posted at 63'
José Gayá (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 63'
Foul by Juan Corbalan (Malta).
Posted at 62'
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Jonathan Caruana.
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Source: bbc.com
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