12.10.2010 18:19

Spain U21 into European Championship (0-3)

Jordi Clos

The Spanish Under 21 side has qualified for the European Championship finals after beating Croatia in the play-off. Goals from Dominguez, Adrián and Jeffren sealed a win in which Barça’s Thiago and Bojan both started.

The result also means Spain’s London Olympic Games hopes are still alive. Luis Milla’s side went into the game with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg and made good of that with a 3-0 away win this afternoon. But it was not as routine a matter as the scoreline might suggest. The home side created plenty of problems, and the last two goals didn’t arrive until the final minutes.

Visitors dominate

It was a nervous opening, with a number of defensive errors from both sides, with both goalkeepers coming into their own in the first half. Spain, with a solid Thiago and with Bojan highly active in attack, had the best chances through Parejo (min 15), Adrián (min 21) and Mata (min 27). The Croats, clearly missing injured star man Rakitic, also found room for danger down the right.

Domínguez on target

There was to be little speculation. The 2-1 result in the first leg was not a secure one for Spain, while Croatia had no option but to score. In the second half that need was greater still, and the Spaniards struggled to contain the onslaught. Vukusic did score in the 57th minute, but the Balkan goal was rightly disallowed for handball. It was when Spain were most floundering that Álvaro Domínguez took advantage of a mistake from keeper Kelava at a corner to make it 1-0 to Spain.

Jeffren gets third

Bojan, who has almost scored with a scorching long shot, came off for his FCB team-mate Jeffren. Immediately after, Croatia were reduced to ten men when Lovren was sent off. The minutes ticked by with Croatia needing two to take the game into extra time, and were twice caught out by Spain. First Adrian and then Barça man Jeffren scored in the dying second to ensure Spanish presence in the finals, which will be held in Denmark from June 11 to 25, 2011, and which double as qualifiers for the 2010 Olympic Games.