Attacking right through

Xavi Hernandez (middle) puts the ball past the Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev to open the account for Spain.-AP Xavi Hernandez (middle) puts the ball past the Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev to open the account for Spain.

On another wet night in Austria, Luis Aragones’ men attacked from start to finish and second-half strikes from Xavi, substitute Daniel Guiza and David Silva ensured the team claimed its fifth win in as many games to set up a title showdown with Germany. Cindy Garcia-Bennett reports.

Spain stormed into the final of a major tournament for the first time in 24 years by rolling past in-form Russia at Euro 2008 in Vienna.

On another wet night in Austria, Luis Aragones’ men attacked from start to finish and second-half strikes from Xavi, substitute Daniel Guiza and David Silva ensured the team claimed its fifth win in as many games to set up a title showdown with Germany.

The outcome prevented Russia, which lost 4-1 to Spain in its opening game, from making its first appearance in a final.

Spain looked to be on top of Russia at the Ernst-Happel Stadium in the first-half but had no goals to show for its work, and after losing the tournament’s leading goal-scorer David Villa to injury in the 34th minute, the team’s prospects did not look bright.

Arsenal playmaker Cesc Fabregas, who converted the clinching spot-kick to help Spain beat Italy in the penalty shootout in the quarterfinals, came on and excelled just as Guiza did when he replaced Fernando Torres.

Russia coach Guus Hiddink made one change to his starting XI with Vasili Berezutski replacing suspended defender Denis Kolodin.

Spain boss Aragones fielded an unchanged line-up with Torres playing alongside Villa. Spain came flying out of the traps and almost took the lead after just five minutes when Villa fed Torres inside the area. But the Liverpool striker’s close-range effort was parried away by goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. Russia, meanwhile, struggled to get past Spain’s defence. After 10 minutes of play, Villa’s right-footed effort from the edge of the area was saved by Akinfeev.

Russia weathered the early storm and began to grow in confidence, with Roman Pavlyuchenko hitting a powerful strike that went straight into the hands of Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Midway through the first-half, Sergio Ramos drove the ball straight to the ’keeper’s hands. Andres Iniesta missed a golden chance to put Spain in front in the 26th minute when he was unable to control Xavi’s clever pass towards the area.

Casillas came to the rescue of Spain on the half-hour mark, going full length to palm away Pavlyuchenko’s curled effort from the edge of the area. Spain suffered a blow shortly after, when star player Villa limped off and was replaced by Fabregas. Villa’s absence hindered Spain, which, seconds later, could have fallen behind. Pavlyuchenko chested down Ivan Saenko’s cross inside the box but fired wide, much to the relief of Casillas. But back came Spain and Ramos got past his marker before firing just wide of the near post.

Torres should have put Spain in front before half-time. Having perfectly controlled Fabregas’ pass, the striker fired a weak central effort that proved an easy save for the ’keeper.

Spain picked up from where it left after the re-start, and its efforts were soon rewarded. Xavi slipped the ball to Iniesta down the left, before finishing his Barcelona team-mate’s cross-shot from inside the box. Torres almost made it 2-0 shortly after, with his curled angled effort from Fabregas’ assist going just high over the bar.

Hiddink was quick to react making a double substitution with Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Vladimir Bystrov replacing Igor Semshov and Saenko respectively.

But it was Spain which looked deadly. Torres twice had the opportunity to double Spain’s lead but his touch from Ramos’ two sensational passes went wide. Aragones made Torres pay for those mistakes as he brought in Guiza to replace the Liverpool frontman.

It proved to be a wise move as Guiza made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute. Fabregas served Guiza inside the area who lobbed the ball over the ’keeper. With Russia offering little opposition, Spain continued to surge forward and put the game beyond its rival’s reach with nine minutes remaining.

Fabregas’ perfect ball found Silva inside the area and he fired past Akinfeev to start the fiesta for the Spanish fans.

With two minutes remaining, Russia almost got a consolation goal but Casillas made a stunning save to repel Bilyaletdinov’s header from Andrei Arshavin’s cross.

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