Spain have beaten Republic of Ireland 2-0 in New York this morning, in their final warm-up game before the Confederations Cup.
The reigning World and European champions survived a late scare to secure a comfortable win in the end.
Spain started the game well against the team ranked 40 places below them in FIFA's rankings, moving the ball quickly around the Irish penalty area and creating several good chances.
They were unable to take the lead though, and in the second half Ireland improved, pushing more men forward as Spain struggled to break them down.
Twenty minutes from the end though, Spain did find the breakthrough, when Roberto Soldado reacted quickest to volley the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the box.
Ireland thought that they had equalised with two minutes on the clock, but Sean St Ledger's goal was ruled out for offside, before Spain added a brilliant second thanks to Juan Mata.
See how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
Thanks for joining me at this unsocial hour, and have a good day!
Spain punished them after that, with an excellent goal involving Mata and Cazorla. I was impressed with Spain today, in the first 45 minutes anyway. They played some excellent football and thoroughly deserved the win.
Ireland will feel that St Ledger's late equaliser should have stood after he had bundled the ball home, but Cox was offside from the initial effort, and to be honest, they didn't really deserve a draw despite a spirited performance.
The win wasn't quite so comfortable in the end for Spain this morning. After dominating the first half, the World champions were not at their best in the second period, before Soldado's goal sparked the game back into life.
FULL-TIME: Spain 2-0 Ireland
Another good move on Spain's left as Cazorla releases Arbeloa on the overlap, but although his cross finds Saldado, the striker can't control his effort on the turn and the ball goes over the bar.
A fantastic goal from Spain that will seal the win. Mata wriggles away from two midfielders before playing a series of one-twos with Cazorla, who releases his teammate into the box to fire past Randolph!
GOAL! Spain 2-0 Ireland (Mata)
Spain try to take the sting out of the game, but Cox robs the ball from Fabregas in midfield and plays it wide to Coleman, who wins a throw off Mata.
Sammon wins a corner of Pique and Ireland play it short to McClean, who loses out to Arbeloa and Spain break. Mata picks up the ball on the left and crosses towards Soldado, who misses it, but Spain get it back, with Cazorla, whose 25-yard effort is tipped over by the goalkeeper. End-to-end now.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Confusion amongst the Irish players, who after celebrating with St Ledger, realise that the offside flag is up, following a goalmouth scramble!
SUBSTITUTION: Spain bring on Arsenal's Santi Cazorla in place of Pedro.
CHANCE! Mata picks the ball up in midfield and plays a lovely pass through to Soldado in the inside left channel, but the striker's chipped effort goes wide.
Ireland are pushing forward more now, but Spain are defending well. They break with Navas on the right, but his pass to Soldado is misplaced.
SUBSTITUTION: Ireland's turn to replace their goalkeeper, as Darren Randolph replaces Forde. They also bring James McClean on for Keogh.
YELLOW CARD! Cox is shown the game's second card for a nasty ankle-high challenge on Busquets. Seeing the replay, the card could easily have been a different colour.
It was typical that Spain would score, just as I'd said they hadn't looked like scoring the whole second half. The commentator's curse does exist!
SUBSTITUTION: Spain make another change as Juan Mata replaces Xavi.
The substitute makes the difference as Soldado reacts quickest after the ball ricocheted between Arbeloa and St Ledger, firing the ball into the bottom corner on the volley.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Ireland (Soldado)
Spain really struggling to break Ireland down in this second half. They haven't looked like scoring since the break in all honesty.
Busquets skips away from two challenges in midfield and plays it wide to Arbeloa, whose cross is blocked. Xavi's subsequent corner is kept in on the far side by Fabregas, but his cross is headed away.
Spain haven't looked as threatening in this half so far. Perhaps the introduction of two new outfield players can galvanise them again.
SUBSTITUTION: Roberto Soldado comes on for Spain in place of Villa.
SAVE! Pique brings the ball out of defence and fires the ball at goal from long-range. The bounce almost beats Forde but the goalkeeper claws it away.
SUBSTITUTION: Spain also making a couple changes. Casillas replaces Valdes in goal, with Cesc Fabregas coming on for Iniesta.
SUBSTITUTION: Ireland make their second change as Simon Cox replaces their captain, Keane.
Navas breaks forwards before turning back on himself and playing it right to Arbeloa but the full-back's cross is caught by Forde.
Iniesta gives the ball away in midfield to Keane, who plays a one-two with Sammon before laying the ball wide to Coleman on the right, but the Everton man's return pass is poor and goes out for a goal kick.
Bit of a drop in the tempo, as Spain continue to dominate possession, without threatening the Irish defence.
Ireland break on the left as Quinn flicks it wide to Keogh, who returns the ball to Quinn, but his cross is blocked and Spain come away with the ball.
SUBSTITUTION: A couple of half-time changes, with Silva being replaced by his new Manchester City teammate Jesus Navas for Spain, while Ireland bring on Stephen Quinn for Hendrick.
Ireland kick off in the second half...
Looking back at some of the highlights from the first half, Spain have really played some delightful football around the box. The tempo has been kept high, which makes the Irish defending all the more impressive.
For Ireland, Trapattoni will have to resist the temptation to replace a striker with another midfielder. While that would strengthen their chances of keeping Spain out, it would all but end their hopes of getting a goal in this game. Their best moments have from pressing by Sammon and Keane, which has forced mistakes out of the Spanish back four.
You've got to think that Ireland will tire eventually though, and Spain know that when they do, the chances will come much more frequently for them. It's just about whether they are able to take them or not.
It's not that Spain haven't got support to Villa up front, I just think the ball hasn't run for them in the final third. That, and the fact that Ireland's defenders have worked tremendously hard.
Spain will not be in panic mode just yet. They've seen this situation many times before and will just keep probing until they find an opening in the Irish defence. They created one or two for themselves as that half wore on, and are sure to get a few more in the second period.
Ireland won't be disappointed by this half time score. They've ridden their luck at times, but have worked extremely hard, and even created a couple of chances on the break.
HALF-TIME: Spain 0-0 Ireland
Iniesta almost finds Villa free in the box, but St Ledgers sticks out a toe and gets it behind for a corner. Xavi's delivery misses everyone and Ireland have a throw-in.
Spain putting the Irish under more pressure, finding Alba on the left, whose cross deflects back to Iniesta, but his curling effort from the edge of the box goes over the bar.
AGAINST THE BAR! Spain put another silky passing move together on the edge of the box as Xavi slips the ball through to Pedro, who dummies two defenders before smashing the ball against the bar. Silva follows up but can't control his volley.
CHANCE! Another very good chance for Spain, as Iniesta fires the ball into Silva, who turns on the edge of the box and flicks the ball through to Villa, but the striker's shot is blocked by Forde.
It's all Spain now, as Silva half-heartedly asks for a penalty after being bundled over by McShance, before St Ledger does well to clear Silva's driven cross.
The ball falls to Villa on the edge of the box and the Barca man wriggles free of McShane, only to fire his shot well over from the left edge of the penalty area.
CHANCE! The best chance of the game so far falls to Pedro, who shoots wide after the ball is deflected to him in the box following Silva's pass towards Villa.
Forde plays a loose pass to McShane, giving Spain a throw deep on the right. They work the ball inside to Xavi, who gets his effort on target this time, but Forde catches the ball easily.
CHANCE! Sammon robs Pique on the left and runs free into the box, but can't quite curl the ball into the far corner from a tight angle.
Ireland earn themselves a rest, with some good possession, but Spain force them back to Forde who kicks the ball long, giving up possession. Spain work it back into the box well, but Villa can't quite get on the end of Silva's cut back.
Xavi's long-range shot is deflected for a corner and the Barcelona man goes across to take it, playing it short to Silva, who crosses into the middle causing a goalmouth scramble before Forde gathers the ball.
More good play from Spain as Xavi plays the ball inside to Silva, who turns back towards the left touchline and feeds Alba but his cross goes out for a goal kick.
Silva finds space on the edge of the Irish penalty box, and feeds Villa, who bursts through but sees his shot blocked for a corner. Xavi's delivery finds the head of Pique, whose effort deflects, wrong-footing the goalkeeper, but Kelly gets the ball off the line!
Another good move from Spain as Busquets finds Xavi, who flicks the ball wide for Alba to run on to and cross, luckily for Ireland, St Ledger is there to clear. Spain regain the ball at the far post though, and work it to Iniesta on the edge of the box, but again his shot doesn't trouble Forde.
Hendrick breaks from midfield on the left and wins a corner out of Arbeloa. Keogh delivers and the ball goes over Valdes, but McShane heads over under pressure at the far post. Ireland coming back into the game now.
CHANCE! Half-chance for the Irish! Coleman finds space on the right again and pulls the ball back towards Keane. It goes over the Irish captain to Keogh, whose acrobatic effort goes over.
YELLOW CARD! Keane nicks the ball off Alba in midfield and releases Coleman, who is brought down by Pedro. The Spaniard receives the game's first booking.
Ireland struggling to get out of their own half early on, with Iniesta playing it wide to Arbeloa, who goes long towards Villa. It is cut out by St Ledger before Forde plays clears the ball.
Xavi to Busquets, back to Xavi, and on to Silva, who crosses towards the back post, where McShane heads away for a corner. Spain play it short, finding Iniesta on the edge of the box, but his shot goes harmlessly over the bar. Excellent start from Spain so far.
The Spanish win a corner after some mesmerising play on the edge of Ireland's box allows Alba to burst forward and shoot, but it is deflected wide and Ireland clear, breaking on the left with Kelly before Ramos dispossesses him.
Spain are already starting the find gaps in the Irish defence, with Xavi finding Iniesta just outside the box. The latter tries to chip the ball into Pedro on the right but it runs out for a goal kick.
As expected, Spain take early control of possession, moving the ball side to side through midfield, before a long pass from Ramos finds Silva clear on the left. The Manchester City man pulls the ball back from the byline, but Ireland get it away.
Spain get the game underway...
We've just had the national anthems in New York, and the teams are shaking hands prior to kickoff.
With just over five minutes to go until kickoff, it's probably time for a quick prediction. I'm going to go for 2-0 to Spain. The Spanish tend to concentrate on possession rather than all-out attack, but if they find spaces in the Irish team, don't be surprised if the margin of victory is even greater. On the other hand, if Ireland can get an early goal, they we could be in for an entertaining end-to-end game.
It will be good to gauge just where Spain are at the moment. They're the reigning World Champions, and have won the last two European Championships. Another World Cup, in Brazil of all places, would surely cement this side's place in football history as probably the greatest of all time.
There is hope for Ireland though. Spain only beat Haiti by a single goal on Saturday, so if Giovanni Trapattoni's can get an early goal they can tempt Spain to commit more men forward, and perhaps get some joy on the counter-attack.
I'm a big fan of James McCarthy in the Ireland midfield, and it will be interesting for Irish fans to see how young Hendrick gets on. They face an uphill battle though, against the movement and control of the Spanish midfield consisting of Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Pedro and Busquets.
On top of that, Spain haven't lost a game since November 2011, when England beat them 1-0 at Wembley, and since their Euro 2012 meeting, Ireland have fallen 23 places in FIFA's rankings to 41, while the Spanish have remained in the number one position.
The last meeting between the two sides was almost a year ago at Euro 2012, where Spain won 4-0, breaking the record for most completed passes in a European Championship game in the process with 859!
I'm sorry Ireland fans, but I can only see this going one way today, especially after seeing the starting lineups, and the statistics are also stacked in Spain's favour.
They've also gone with two strikers in the shape of Conor Sammon and captain Robbie Keane, who broke the Irish goalscoring record on Friday.
While Ireland have fielded a somewhat brave 4-4-2 formation, with Seamus Coleman in midfield, alongside 21-year-old Jeff Hendrick of Derby County.
Two very interesting lineups there. Spain have gone with pretty much their strongest XI, with a Busquets protecting the back four, and a very strong midfield. David Villa gets the chance to increase his tally as Spain's record goalscorer up front.
IRELAND: Forde; McShane, St Ledger, O'Dea, Kelly; Coleman, McCarthy, Hendrick, Keogh; Sammon, Keane
SPAIN: Valdes; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Busquets; Pedro, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva; Villa
Kickoff is at 1am, so let's get some team news in...
As I mentioned in the introduction, Spain will need a good result today. A 2-1 win over Haiti was unimpressive to say the least, while Ireland have looked good in their last two games, albeit against much weaker opposition than they will face this morning.
The rather strange time for this friendly coverage is due to the fact that it is being played in New York, at Yankee Stadium no less!
Good morning, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Spain versus Republic of Ireland.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
