Oyarzabal fires Spain past Austria to WC last 16
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- Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice in Spain's 3-0 World Cup win over Austria at SoFi Stadium, reaching four goals at this tournament after first-half and second-half finishes both assisted by Marc Cucurella.
- The result delivered Spain's first World Cup knockout victory since the 2010 final against Netherlands, snapping first-knockout-round exits from 2014, 2018, and 2022.
- Spain, now on a 34-game unbeaten streak, will face either Portugal or Croatia in the round of 16 on Monday in Arlington, Texas.
- Pedro Porro headed in his first international goal midway through the second half from an Álex Baena assist to complete the scoring.
- Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí became the first pair of teenagers to start a World Cup knockout match for one team since Pelé and José Altafini for Brazil against Wales in 1958.
- Goalkeeper Unai Simón recorded his fourth consecutive clean sheet as Spain's defense has yet to concede at this tournament; Yamal nearly scored in the dying minutes but was denied on the line by Austria defender David Alaba.
Why it matters: Spain had not won a World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2010, so Thursday's result removes the historical drag of three straight group-stage-or-knockout-round exits and resets expectations for a team many considered a favorite. With a 34-game unbeaten streak and four consecutive clean sheets, the 'surprise Cape Verde draw' looks like noise rather than a crack — and the next test is either Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal or Croatia on Monday.
