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MURCIA, Spain, Sept 6 - David Villa earned
European champions Spain a 1-0 victory over Bosnia in their
opening 2010 World Cup qualifier in Group Five on Saturday.
The Valencia striker missed a first-half penalty but made
amends early in the second half when he rounded the goalkeeper
to score from Cesc Fabregas's pass.
Bosnia had made life difficult for the home side up to that
point but were vulnerable once they had to chase the game and
their hosts always looked more likely to add to the score.
The victory gave new Spain coach Vicente del Bosque a win on
his competitive debut, having replaced Luis Aragones after the
victorious Euro 2008 campaign.
"I'm happy for the three points and because we improved in
the second half," Del Bosque told Spanish state television.
"We found it hard to make the most of the few spaces they
gave us but we worked hard and I think tiredness on their part
allowed us to make the breakthrough."
Spain's trademark possession game ran into a Bosnian brick
wall in the first half, with their neat passing game disrupted
in a crowded midfield.
Their first real sight of goal came after 26 minutes when
Xavi burst into the area to head straight at Kenen Hasagic, and
a minute later Marcos Senna rattled the crossbar with a fierce
25-metre drive.
The visitors continued to hold firm until Samir Muratovic
brought down the busy Diego Capel in the area, as Spain worked a
a free kick move.
Villa, top scorer at Euro 2008, stepped up to the mark but
put his shot wide of Hasagic's right-hand post.
Miroslav Blazevic's men raced forward with pace when Spain's
attacks broke down and just before the break Edin Dzeko burst
through in a one-on-one with Iker Casillas.
However, the Wolfsburg forward looked for a team mate inside
instead of shooting and the chance went begging.
Spain picked up the pace after the interval with Andres
Iniesta stinging Hasagic's hands with a low drive, and in the
57th minute Fabregas sent Villa clear into the area.
Villa went round the keeper and looked to have taken the
ball too far but fired into the net from the tightest of angles.
The goal settled the home side and only the saves of Hasagic
prevented Spain from doubling their lead as they created a
string of openings near the end.
(Writing by Mark Elkington in Madrid; Editing by Clare
Fallon)