SOCCER-SPAIN International match report

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Friendly international

Macedonia 2 - Spain 3

Macedonia: Nikoloski (Pacovski 65'); Sedloski, Mitreski, Noveski (Mosjov 56'), Popov; Despotovski (Tasevski 65'), Shumulikoski, Georgievski (Grozdanovski 61'), Naumoski (Ivanovski 58'); Pandev (Ibrahimi 79'), Stojkov. 4-4-2.
Spain: Reina (Diego López 65'); Arbeloa, Piqué, Puyol, Capdevila (Monreal 71'); Xabi Alonso (Sergio Busquets 46'); Cazorla (Riera 46'), Xavi (Marchena 71'), Silva; Fernando Torres (Güiza 64'), David Villa (Cesc Fábregas 46'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 08. Pandev. Picked up long ball and rounded Reina to score.
2-0. 33. Pandev. Cut past Puyol and steered shot inside far post.
2-1. 52. Fernando Torres. Glancing header past keeper from Xavi cross.
2-2. 54. Piqué. Turned ball back in to net after Fabregás shot came off post.
2-3. 56. Riera. Fired shot from left of area inside near top corner of net.

Spain came back from two goals down to beat Macedonia 2-3 in this mid-summer friendly. The game was preceded by an emotive tribute to the recently deceased Espanyol captain Dani Jarque, the players coming out with shirts with his name and the number 21 printed on the front. Jarque was a youth international, but although his name was mooted several times, he never made it to the full squad.

Del Bosque only made one change from his expected line up, Reina starting in goal in place of Casillas, who was carrying a knock. Within eight minutes they were behind though when slack defending let in Pandev, and the striker notched up his second of the night later in the first half after rounding Puyol before drilling a shot inside the far post.

David Villa had a couple of chances to get one back, lobbing a shot over the top and then hitting the post. But the coach decided that he needed a change of tactic, and at half time took off the Valencia striker to bring on Fábregas and revert to the old 4-2-3-1 formation.

The move worked almost immediately, and ten minutes in to the second half Spain were in front. Fernando Torres started things off with a header past Nikoloski from Xavi's cross, Piqué levelled the scores after a shot from Fábregas came back off the post, and Riera beat the keeper for a third time with an impressive shot from outside of the area.

After that Del Bosque rested some of his key players, giving a first cap to Osasuna left back Nacho Monreal. Another win, and a good warm up for next month's World Cup qualifiers.