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Spain maintained their perfect record on Saturday, dispatching of Nigeria, 3-0. The game wasn't as comfortable for La Roja as the score suggests, however, as the Super Eagles were extremely dangerous and unlucky not to score in the first half.
The favorites scored early on an absolutely brilliant move. Jordi Alba finished it off after a great run from his left back spot and a setup by Andres Iniesta, but it was the epitome of a team goal. Spain started the attack from inside of their own half and the goal featured a four-pass sequence of consecutive one-touch passes.
Most probably expected Spain to pass in circles and comfortably hang onto their one-goal lead for a bit after that, like they did against Uruguay, but they faced a surprising amount of pressure from Nigeria. The Super Eagles were probably the better side until the half-hour mark or so, but they failed to make their chances count. Spain got it together late in the first half and Cesc Fabregas missed a great chance, putting a shot off the post off a great setup by Roberto Soldado.
Ideye Brown looked to have an equalizer in the 51st minute after a cross came into the box, but missed his attempt. That would be the last great chance Nigeria would get while in with a serious shot to win the game. In the 62nd minute, shortly after Fernando Torres entered the game for Spain, the Chelsea striker scored with a diving header off a cross by Pedro to put his team ahead 2-0 and put Nigeria away.
Alba put the exclamation point on Spain's win in the 89nd minute, scoring a tap-in on a brilliant weaving effort that saw him beat multiple defenders, then round the keeper to complete a brace.
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