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RECIFE, Brazil: World champions Spain got their Confederations Cup campaign off to a winning start on Sunday with a 2-1 win over South American champions Uruguay in the northern Brazilian city of Recife.
The Spaniards dominated throughout but after Pedro Rodriguez's deflected opener had cause to be grateful to Roberto Soldado's 32nd-minute clincher as Luis Suarez netted a late freekick for the Uruguayans.
Although the Uruguayans came closer to pinching a point than they deserved, Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque was exultant afterwards as his side laid the foundation for reaching the last four from a group also containing Uruguay and minnows Tahiti.
“These are three magnificent points which stand us in great stead when it comes to reaching the semi-finals,” said Del Bosque.
“It was a great match played out in conditions which sapped the players' strength,” he added, referring to the warm, humid weather.
“We dominated almost the whole match but the margin was a slim one in the event. At 2-0 we thought we had it won already and we stepped off the gas a little.”
Uruguay counterpart Oscar Tabarez said: “Spain were superior and they deserved to win - we lacked a bit of discipline. In the second half it was a little more balanced as we dug deep to play for our pride.”
Cesc Fabregas came within the width of a post from giving Spain the lead in the 10th minute with a low strike before the favourites made the breakthrough after just 20 minutes -- Lady Luck smiling on them as Diego Lugano deflected home Pedro's shot to bamboozle keeper Fernando Muslera.
As is their habit, Spain were giving the Uruguayans almost no chance to touch the ball in the opening quarter and Xavi almost made it two when he sent a freekick whizzing just off target after 26 minutes.
Without the ball, Uruguay grew frustrated and resorted to some strong-arm tactics as first Edinson Cavani earned a booking for clattering into Sergio Ramos as they challenged for a header.
Ramos responded by shoving Gaston Ramirez before Uruguayan Cristian Rodriguez caught Jordi Alba with his elbow.
Suarez, in the news for intimating he would be partial to a move from Liverpool to Real Madrid, tried to rally the Celeste, who qualified for this event by winning the 2011 Copa America in Argentina, finding Cavani with a freekick, but the latter's header was too close to Iker Casillas.
Del Bosque elected to keep faith with his veteran keeper despite Casillas missing a chunk of the second half of the season with a hand injury -- once he had recovered the then Real coach Jose Mourinho left him on the bench.
After 32 minutes it was 2-0 courtesy of beautiful vision from Fabregas, who shimmied away from two defenders, then played in Soldado, who took one touch before drilling the ball into the roof of the net.
Uruguay made a change at the break with Ramirez giving way to Alvaro Gonzalez but Spain were still on fire as Xavi and Iniesta interlinked brilliantly before Xavi's flick fed Pedro and his cross just eluded the diving Soldado.
Pedro then mishit an effort wide after a neat Fabregas through ball sent Alba into space. With 20 minutes left Uruguay sent on veteran striker Diego Forlan for Diego Perez.
That sparked a revival of sorts for the South Americans and Suarez drove home a curling freekick with two minutes remaining to give the scoreline a more respectable look and also join Forlan as his country's joint all-time scorer on 33 goals.
Spain came to the event having already become the only team in history to win three major events on the bounce - the 2010 World Cup sandwiched by Euro 2008 and 2012.
A win in this dress rehearsal for next year's World Cup finals in Brazil would see the Spanish join Argentina and France as the only countries to win the trio of World Cup, the Olympics and the Confederations Cup.
BALOTELLI POWERS ITALY PAST MEXICO
When Mario Balotelli puts his mind to it, he can be unstoppable.
His winning goal in Italy's 2-1 victory over Mexico at the Confederations Cup proved his class, though he needs to maintain his focus even after scoring such goals. In the 78th minute Sunday, Balotelli collected a perfectly lobbed pass from Emanuele Giaccherini and muscled his way between two defenders to break a deadlock in the first official match at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium.
Much like at last year's European Championship, when he scored both goals in a 2-1 semifinal win over Germany and pulled off his shirt after one of them, Balotelli reacted by stripping off his jersey to show his muscular physique, earning an automatic yellow card.
If Balotelli picks up another yellow card in Italy's next match, against Japan, he'll miss the final group game against host Brazil.
“I didn't know about this rule with the two yellows,” Balotelli said. “Next time I won't do it.”
Perhaps worried that he might pick up a second yellow, as in last week's match against the Czech Republic, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli replaced Balotelli in the 85th with Alberto Gilardino.
“Mario has to stop showing off his muscles. The yellow cards count,” Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said.
“Anyhow, well done.” Celebrating his 100th appearance with the national team, Andrea Pirlo had given Italy the lead with one of his trademark free kicks in the 27th. Mexico equalized in the 34th minute, when Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez converted a penalty kick after Andrea Barzagli tripped Giovani Dos Santos.
“I was dreaming of a free-kick goal,” Pirlo said. “It was important to win the first match and now we have three days to recuperate. It's nice to be applauded in a legendary stadium like this.”
In an entertaining Group A match, Italy dominated possession while Mexico relied on counterattacks, coming close when Andres Guardado hit the crossbar in the 11th. “We knew we had to contain them and try to control the ball in the midfield,” Mexico coach Jose Manuel De la Torre said.
“But they were in better physical condition and ultimately that made the difference.”
Italy moved level with Brazil on three points in the group after the hosts beat Japan 3-0 in the tournament opener Saturday.
The Azzurri had not impressed in their last two matches, drawing with both the Czech Republic in a World Cup qualifier and with Haiti upon arriving in Brazil earlier this week, but Pirlo and Balotelli made the difference this time.
For his 13th goal for Italy, Pirlo curled a spinning shot over Mexico's wall into the top left corner after Balotelli earned the foul that set up the dead-ball shot from 30 meters (yards) out.
Mexico's equalizer came after Barzagli let Dos Santos get by him to set up Hernandez's 33rd goal in 51 appearances for Mexico. The 25-year-old Hernandez, who plays for Manchester United, is on course to better the Mexico record of 42 goals held by former great Jared Borgetti.
As usual, the temperamental Balotelli by turn misbehaved and by turn proved unstoppable.
At one point midway through the second half, Balotelli kicked his boot across the area after being thwarted by Mexico's stubborn defense.
But the AC Milan striker finally broke through as the match appeared headed for a draw, holding off Mexico captain Francisco Rodriguez then powering past another defender, Hiram Mier, to slot the ball in as he skidded across the grass.
It was Balotelli's ninth goal in 23 appearances.
Prandelli had nothing but praise for Pirlo.
“No words are needed for Andrea, just big applause,” the manager said. “He's a model for everyone.”
For Mexico, which entered amid a stuttering World Cup qualifying campaign, the loss will extend pressure on coach Jose Manuel De la Torre.
However, the Mexican side showed promise and came close to taking the lead in the second half.
Mexico has won only one of six qualifiers with three goals scored, and failed to find the target at all in its last two drawn matches against Panama and Costa Rica.
Despite their squad's recent troubles, Mexican fans, many of them wearing their customary sombreros, hugely outnumbered blue-clad Italian supporters on a warm afternoon.
In the next round of Group A matches Wednesday, Italy next faces Japan in Recife and Mexico plays Brazil in Fortaleza.
