Gavi was part of a much sharper España start in Atlanta. After a disappointing draw against Cabo Verde, España scored three goals in less than half an hour against Arabia Saudí and never let the match settle.
Oyarzabal struck twice, and Lamine Yamal added the other goal. That burst gave España control before Arabia Saudí could get past midfield with any regularity.
Oyarzabal and Lamine Yamal
The first goal came from Lamine Yamal, who finished at the far post after a lateral cross from Oyarzabal. It was España’s first goal in the Copa del Mundo, and it arrived as soon as the team began moving the ball with pace and width.
Oyarzabal doubled the advantage after a cross from the right and an assist from Dani Olmo. He then scored again from the penalty area after a long-range shot from Dani Olmo and a header touch from Laporte.
Atlanta in the Copa
That sequence mattered because España had just come out of a frustrating draw against Cabo Verde, yet the response in Atlanta was immediate and clean. Luis de la Fuente’s side did not spend long feeling out the match; it pushed forward early and kept Arabia Saudí pinned back.
Al Dawsari was booked after a foul on Pedro Porro, another sign of how often España carried the game into Arabia Saudí’s half. Raphael Claus handled the match, and he has been an international referee since 2015.
The result in Atlanta leaves España with a far better platform than it had after the previous game. The scoreline was built quickly, the control lasted through the first half, and the attack came through the exact players España needed most.
