ANKARA: Defending champions Spain qualified for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after shutting out Serbia 3-0 on Tuesday on matchday four, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
The Spanish trio of Aymeric Laporte, Alvaro Morata and Alex Baena scored in the Group A4 match at Cordoba’s Nuevo Arcangel.
Defender Laporte scored an early header to give a 1-0 lead to the hosts.
Longtime Spanish forward Morata the team’s captain, missed a penalty shot in the second half while his team had a 1-0 lead.
But in minute 65, Morata doubled the lead for Spain.
Baena added a third goal for the Spanish national team in the 77th minute on a freekick. Serbia were down to 10 men before Baena’s goal.
Defender Strahinja Pavlovic was sent off for a foul on midfielder Mikel Oyarzabal, which caused a freekick.
Spain, the group leaders, have 10 points to book their place at the Nations League last eight, joining Germany in the next stage.
Second-place Denmark, which drew 2-2 against Switzerland, have seven points. Serbia are third with four points. Switzerland, which bottoms out the group, took their first point in the home draw.
The last-place teams of each group will be relegated to League B. – BERNAMA-ANADOLU
