Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal to help Spain secure a resounding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Group H, rebounding from a goalless draw with Cape Verde in their tournament opener.
Yamal broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, and Mikel Oyarzabal struck twice in quick succession in the first half to effectively seal the match before halftime. Oyarzabal, who had faced criticism for failing to touch the ball in the opening 30 minutes against Cape Verde, responded emphatically with a brace.
Spain added a fourth goal immediately after the break when Saudi defender Hassan Al-Tambakti turned the ball into his own net. The hosts then deliberately slowed the tempo and made substitutions to conserve energy for key players.
Coach Luis de la Fuente celebrated his 65th birthday with the emphatic win. Yamal, who played only a few minutes at the end of the Cape Verde match due to injury, injected fresh energy into the side.
The opening goal came from a precise pass by Oyarzabal, which Yamal collected and finished at the far post. From a corner kick, Aymeric Laporte headed the ball to Oyarzabal for the second. Three minutes later, Pedro Porro released Marc Cucurella to set up Dani Olmo, whose header allowed Oyarzabal to volley home off his body.
Speaking after the match, Oyarzabal said: 'It's not about me wanting to prove myself. I always feel loved by my teammates and the coaching staff every day. That's what matters to me. People outside will talk, and we know how football works, but you have to stay calm.'
Yamal added: 'Scoring at the World Cup is a dream. I watched the last World Cup from my classroom, so scoring here with my mother and family in the stands is a dream come true.'
With the result, Spain sit second in Group H on four points, while Saudi Arabia have one. The match between Cape Verde and Uruguay followed later in Miami.
