Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 2
Spain Lead Austria 1-0 at Half-Time as Oyarzabal Nets 3rd World Cup Goal
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 2

Spain Lead Austria 1-0 at Half-Time as Oyarzabal Nets 3rd World Cup Goal

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 2

Summary

  • Half-time in Los Angeles left Spain 1-0 up on Austria after Mikel Oyarzabal rolled in Marc Cucurella’s square pass shortly before the break.
  • Oyarzabal’s third goal of the tournament capped a dominant first half in which Spain also had a Cucurella strike disallowed and saw a Lamine Yamal penalty appeal rejected.
  • Alexander Schlager kept Austria alive with a string of saves, including a fingertip stop onto the bar from Alex Baena’s free kick and a close-range denial of Yamal.
  • Lamine Yamal still drove Spain’s attack, repeatedly troubling Konrad Laimer as Spain took control of a knockout tie whose winner will face Portugal or Croatia in the last 16.

Insights

Can Austria's tenacious defense and a star goalkeeper defy the odds to upset tournament-favorite Spain?
Is FIFA's strict new VAR rule creating more controversy than clarity in the World Cup knockout stages?