Three Villarreal players score goals as Spain demolish Malta, 7-0

Spain easily defeated Malta today in a European qualifier played in Cádiz, 7-0. It was as one sided as the score (and the FIFA rankings—Malta is #182) suggest.

The match will be remembered by Villarreal fans for a lot, though. Gerard, Raul Albiol and Santi Cazorla all started. Santi scored Spain’s second goal in the 41st minute (he was subbed off shortly after halftime).

Pau Torres came on at the hour mark and scored almost immediately—a simple chest-in off a corner kick routine. And Gerard Moreno, who had assisted on Santi’s goal and at least one other one, got a goal himself as well.

Pau thus becomes, I believe, the first native of the town of Vila-real to play for the national team. It’s his first goal—and Gerard’s first goal—in a match that counts for the Spanish NT. And Santi Cazorla scored his first goal since November 2015—a friendly match against England in Alicante—that will always be remembered for Mario Gaspar’s wonderstrike!