[Mr-Cricket]

Villain Torres makes amends
From correspondents in Geneva, Switzerland
June 8, 2006

Spain 2 Croatia 1
A CLASSY extra-time goal from striker Fernando Torres and a free kick from debutant Mariano Pernia earned Spain victory in a World Cup warm-up today (AEST).

Spain appeared to be heading for defeat after centreback Pablo Ibanez nodded the ball into his own net after Niko Kranjcar floated a seemingly innocuous ball into the area in the 14th minute.

But Pernia, making his first appearance in a Spain shirt after being called up to replace the injured Asier del Horno, equalised when his miscued free kick made its way through a forest of defenders and crept past keeper Stipe Pletikosa at the far post just after the hour.

Torres looked to have spurned the chance to win the match for Spain 15 minutes from time, when he had a weakly struck penalty saved by Pletikosa, but he atoned by scoring a fine individual goal in stoppage time.

The Atletico Madrid striker cut past two defenders and slotted the ball inside the post to give his side the win and stretch its unbeaten record to 22 matches.

Spain begins its Group H campaign against Ukraine in Leipzig bext Wednesday, then faces Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Croatia, which finished third in its inaugural World Cup in 1998 but went out in the first round four years ago in South Korea and Japan, faces a baptism of fire in Group F.

It meets five-time world champion and tournament favourite Brazil in its opening match in Berlin on Tuesday facing Japan and Australia.

Agence France-Presse