The home side could only break down Turkey once but that was enough for them to pick up all three points at the Bernabeu..
Spain 1-0 Turkey
Spain scraped past Turkey to put themselves six points clear at the top of Group 5 and in pole position to qualify for the World Cup next year.
The win was far from easy though and only came courtesy of Gerard Pique's first goal at international level, scored fifteen minutes into the second-half.
That effort aside, the home team rarely troubled the Turkish goal and it was Iker Casillas who was the busier of the two 'keepers throughout.
Both Nihat and Sanli Tuncay forced the Real Madrid man to make good saves and the visitors did well to contain Spain for most of the game.
However, they could not find the back of the net and Spain managed to pick up their tenth straight international win to strengthen their grip on the group.
Inside a packed Bernabeu, it was the Turks who started the better side, much to the frustration of the patriotic supporters. First, Nihat tested Iker Casillas with a shot from just inside the box that he had to tip wide, and then Sanli Tuncay tried his luck, forcing the goalkeeper to palm it away.
It was a bright start by the visitors and they did not give Spain much time and space on the ball to weave their magic. Mehmet Aurelio looked strong in the middle of the pitch and the home side were having to work hard to get their passing game going.
Indeed, the fans were not even lifted out of their seats until the thirty minute mark, when David Villa very nearly headed home a cross from Marcos Senna, but with a flick from a defender it went over. That chance seemed to bring Spain to life in the final third and Volkan Demirel was finally forced into a save when Fernando Torres struck a shot from outside the box.
That effort aside though, the Turkish 'keeper had very little to do in the opening half and the visitors would have been pleased with the way they contained Spain at home. After the interval it was very much the same story too, with Casillas pulling off a brilliant save at full stretch to deny Tuncay in the opening few minutes.
However, even though they had rarely troubled Volkan, Spain took the lead just fifteen minutes into the second-half thanks to Pique. The Barcelona man grabbed his first goal at international level from close range after Xavi's free-kick hit Sergio Ramos at the far post and fell kindly for him.
Despite going behind though, Turkey did not change their game plan much and continued to frustrate Spain, not giving them time to play how they wanted. The home side didn't look comfortable even with the lead and it was only as the clock wore down that they finally started to press their opponents and not allow them the ball.
Juan Mata looked lively after coming off the bench and another Valencia man, David Silva, very nearly doubled the lead but his shot from outside the box just flew over the bar. With time running out, the flaws in Turkey's game began to be exposed by Spain, and Volkan had to palm away a fierce drive from Xabi Alonso.
The home team controlled most of the possession in the latter stages and Ramos nearly grabbed a goal in injury time but his shot was high and wide. Even though Casillas had been the busier 'keeper throughout the match, he was not towards the end as Spain managed to close the game out comfortably.
Spain 1-0 Turkey
Spain scraped past Turkey to put themselves six points clear at the top of Group 5 and in pole position to qualify for the World Cup next year.
The win was far from easy though and only came courtesy of Gerard Pique's first goal at international level, scored fifteen minutes into the second-half.
That effort aside, the home team rarely troubled the Turkish goal and it was Iker Casillas who was the busier of the two 'keepers throughout.
Both Nihat and Sanli Tuncay forced the Real Madrid man to make good saves and the visitors did well to contain Spain for most of the game.
However, they could not find the back of the net and Spain managed to pick up their tenth straight international win to strengthen their grip on the group.
Inside a packed Bernabeu, it was the Turks who started the better side, much to the frustration of the patriotic supporters. First, Nihat tested Iker Casillas with a shot from just inside the box that he had to tip wide, and then Sanli Tuncay tried his luck, forcing the goalkeeper to palm it away.
It was a bright start by the visitors and they did not give Spain much time and space on the ball to weave their magic. Mehmet Aurelio looked strong in the middle of the pitch and the home side were having to work hard to get their passing game going.
Indeed, the fans were not even lifted out of their seats until the thirty minute mark, when David Villa very nearly headed home a cross from Marcos Senna, but with a flick from a defender it went over. That chance seemed to bring Spain to life in the final third and Volkan Demirel was finally forced into a save when Fernando Torres struck a shot from outside the box.
That effort aside though, the Turkish 'keeper had very little to do in the opening half and the visitors would have been pleased with the way they contained Spain at home. After the interval it was very much the same story too, with Casillas pulling off a brilliant save at full stretch to deny Tuncay in the opening few minutes.
However, even though they had rarely troubled Volkan, Spain took the lead just fifteen minutes into the second-half thanks to Pique. The Barcelona man grabbed his first goal at international level from close range after Xavi's free-kick hit Sergio Ramos at the far post and fell kindly for him.
Despite going behind though, Turkey did not change their game plan much and continued to frustrate Spain, not giving them time to play how they wanted. The home side didn't look comfortable even with the lead and it was only as the clock wore down that they finally started to press their opponents and not allow them the ball.
Juan Mata looked lively after coming off the bench and another Valencia man, David Silva, very nearly doubled the lead but his shot from outside the box just flew over the bar. With time running out, the flaws in Turkey's game began to be exposed by Spain, and Volkan had to palm away a fierce drive from Xabi Alonso.
The home team controlled most of the possession in the latter stages and Ramos nearly grabbed a goal in injury time but his shot was high and wide. Even though Casillas had been the busier 'keeper throughout the match, he was not towards the end as Spain managed to close the game out comfortably.
Last edited by Shiko on Sun Mar 29, 2009 2:22 am; edited 1 time in total
