Spain 4 Northern Ireland 1

SANTANDER, Spain, June 3 (AFP)

Result in a World Cup warm-up match here on Wednesday: Spain 4 (Pizzi 30, 37, Morientes 46, 56) Northern Ireland 1 (Taggart 43) Referee: Gilles Veissiere (Fra) Teams Spain: Canizares - Abelardo, Campo, Ferrer, Sergi (Aranzabal 45) - Celades, Amor, Etxeberria - Guerrero (Kiko 45), Pizzi (Morientes 45), Raul (Alfonso 45). Northern Ireland: Fettis - A. Hughes, Taggart, Morrow, Hill, Jenkins - McCarthy, Lennon (Whitly 89), Machilton (Munryne 77) - M Hughes, Dowie. Spain thrashed Northern Ireland 4-1 here on Wednesday in their final warm-up friendly before the June 10 to July 12 World Cup. The Irish defence was finally breached on 30 minutes thanks to a piece of astute play by Sergi. He caught the visitors sleeping when he released Raul with a quickly-taken freekick and the Real Madrid striker centred for Juan Antonio Pizzi to score. Pizzi then netted his eight goal on his 21st international appearance when he headed home Joseba Etxeberrias corner in the 37th minute. But then Northern Ireland surprisingly reduced the deficit when Santiago Canizares missed Michael Hughes cross and Gerry Taggart headed home his seventh goal for his country. Substitute Fernando Morientes, who replaced Pizzi at half-time, restored Spains two-goal advantage when he raced through to score his third international goal in only his second game. Morientes continued his fantastic start to his international career when he headed home Spains fourth and his second on 66 minutes. Agustin Aranzabal played a one-two with Alfonso before he crossed for the Real Madrid striker to turn the ball home.

© - AFP - 1998