Spain wins but Torres limps out

Source: Agencies  |   2008-10-17  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

STRIKER David Villa maintained European champion Spain's perfect start to 2010 World Cup qualifying with a late winner to sink Belgium 2-1 on Wednesday.

England, which overcame Belarus 3-1, and the Netherlands, 1-0 winners over Norway, also kept their 100 percent records. Greece, the only other European nation to begin the evening with maximum points, lost 1-2 at home to Switzerland.

Midfielder Alberto Aquilani scored twice for world champion and Group 8 leader Italy to beat Montenegro 2-1.

Germany also found it tough going at home against Wales, the Group 4 favorites taking the points and a 1-0 win thanks to a long-range strike from Piotr Trochowski.

Spain stretched its unbeaten run to 27 matches and made it four wins from four in Group 5 but it had to come from behind to defeat Belgium in Brussels.

Vicente del Bosque's team had won its first three games without conceding a goal but its net was breached by Wesley Sonck after just seven minutes, the striker beating Iker Casillas with a looping header.

Spain striker Fernando Torres then limped out of the game and his replacement Cesc Fabregas created the 36th-minute equalizer for Andres Iniesta who neatly rounded keeper Stijn Stijnen and scored from a tight angle.

Spain enjoyed a let-off in the second half when Carles Puyol cleared off the line to deny Anthony Vanden Borre, before another substitute, Daniel Guiza, crossed for Villa to head in the winner two minutes from time.

The Netherlands maintained its 100 percent record in Group 9 with a 1-0 success over Norway in Oslo. Midfielder Mark van Bommel volleyed in a 62nd-minute winner for the Dutch who have nine points from three games.

Italy's victory over Montenegro in Lecce meant boss Marcello Lippi, over his two spells in charge, has equalled 1934 and 1938 World Cup-winning coach Vittorio Pozzo's record of 30 games without defeat.