Spain extended their strong start to the UEFA Nations League with a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic in Oviedo on Saturday, with Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Mikel Merino scoring for the hosts. The win kept Spain top of Group A3 and extended their unbeaten run within 90 minutes to 41 matches, with 31 wins and 10 draws, according to UEFA.&nbsp;Playing a home international in Oviedo for the first time in 11 years, Spain took the lead in the sixth minute. Yamal received the ball around 18 yards from goal and curled a fine shot into the far corner. It was his third straight game with a goal for Spain.&nbsp;The hosts continued to dominate and came close to adding another goal, as Dani Olmo saw his close-range effort blocked, while Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky made good saves to deny Alex Baena and Pedri.&nbsp;Spain eventually doubled their lead in the 35th minute, as Rodri reacted quickly to a loose ball inside the box and placed his shot into the top corner.&nbsp;Spain remained in control after the break despite making two changes at half-time, with Yamal and Baena taken off as Luis de la Fuente managed his squad ahead of Tuesday’s game against Croatia.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hockey-india-announces-cash-reward-for-men-s-team-after-asian-games-gold-1791085882018">Hockey India announces cash reward for men’s team after Asian Games gold</a>&nbsp;The Czech Republic improved after the break and reduced the deficit in the 69th minute, as Adam Hlozek’s pass found Jiri Slama, who sent a low shot into the bottom corner.&nbsp;The visitors appeared to have equalised when substitute Ryan Naderi scored from close range, but the goal was ruled out for a foul during the build-up.&nbsp;Spain were given another advantage in the 85th minute when Czech defender Ladislav Krejci received a second yellow card for a foul on Roberto Fernandez.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-3rd-odi-shai-hope-motie-star-as-west-indies-defeat-india-by-five-wickets-1791039749152">Shai Hope, Motie star as West Indies defeat India by five wickets</a>&nbsp;Playing against 10 men, Spain regained control and sealed the win in the 90th minute. Merino reacted quickest to another loose ball inside the box and fired it into the net to make it 3-1.&nbsp;The result keeps FIFA’s top-ranked Spain unbeaten in Group A3, while 48th-ranked Czech Republic are still waiting for their first win of the campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Lamine Yamal continued his fine goalscoring form as Spain secured a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic in the Nations League on Saturday, extending their perfect start to the competition.

Spain extended their strong start to the UEFA Nations League with a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic in Oviedo on Saturday, with Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Mikel Merino scoring for the hosts. The win kept Spain top of Group A3 and extended their unbeaten run within 90 minutes to 41 matches, with 31 wins and 10 draws, according to UEFA. Playing a home international in Oviedo for the first time in 11 years, Spain took the lead in the sixth minute. Yamal received the ball around 18 yards from goal and curled a fine shot into the far corner. It was his third straight game with a goal for Spain. The hosts continued to dominate and came close to adding another goal, as Dani Olmo saw his close-range effort blocked, while Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky made good saves to deny Alex Baena and Pedri. Spain eventually doubled their lead in the 35th minute, as Rodri reacted quickly to a loose ball inside the box and placed his shot into the top corner. Spain remained in control after the break despite making two changes at half-time, with Yamal and Baena taken off as Luis de la Fuente managed his squad ahead of Tuesday’s game against Croatia. Also Read - Hockey India announces cash reward for men’s team after Asian Games gold The Czech Republic improved after the break and reduced the deficit in the 69th minute, as Adam Hlozek’s pass found Jiri Slama, who sent a low shot into the bottom corner. The visitors appeared to have equalised when substitute Ryan Naderi scored from close range, but the goal was ruled out for a foul during the build-up. Spain were given another advantage in the 85th minute when Czech defender Ladislav Krejci received a second yellow card for a foul on Roberto Fernandez. Also Read - Shai Hope, Motie star as West Indies defeat India by five wickets Playing against 10 men, Spain regained control and sealed the win in the 90th minute. Merino reacted quickest to another loose ball inside the box and fired it into the net to make it 3-1. The result keeps FIFA’s top-ranked Spain unbeaten in Group A3, while 48th-ranked Czech Republic are still waiting for their first win of the campaign. With inputs from agencies

Lamine Yamal continued his fine goalscoring form as Spain secured a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic in the Nations League on Saturday, extending their perfect start to the competition.

UEFA Nations League: Spain register another win, beat Czech Republic 3-1

Spain huffed and puffed, making hard work of their Euro 2016 opener before a late Gerard Pique goal blew away the Czech Republic resistance. Yet the win could not conceal the fact that Vicente del Bosque&#39;s champions may be lacking a killer instinct. 
 
Until defender Pique&#39;s crucial late header, the holders were again largely ineffective in front of goal, just as they had been in their 1-0 loss to Georgia in their final warm-up game last week. 
 
Spain had three-quarters of the possession up until the interval and played most of the game in the Czech half, but still did not have the wit or invention to break down their more limited opponents. 
 
By the end, the champions had hit the target just five times in their 17 attempts, with Pique&#39;s 87th-minute header from a superb Andres Iniesta cross eventually sparing them blushes. 
 
It left Spain&#39;s coach Vicente del Bosque with an increasingly familiar headache. &quot;It&#39;s true that we dominate but we still struggle in front of goal,&quot; he sighed afterwards. 
 
The most important thing for the coach was that this was at least an improvement on Spain&#39;s last three opening games at major tournaments: a defeat in the 2014 World Cup by the Netherlands, a draw with Italy in Euro 2012 and a loss in the 2010 World Cup to Switzerland. 
 
They started with a sense of urgency and were most effective when they had David Silva and Jordi Alba stretching the Czech team on the flanks. That enabled them to create the first real opening of the game, with Silva&#39;s cross from the right finding Alvaro Morata in the box but his first-touch shot was kept out by the ever-excellent Petr Cech. 
 
Problems started for Spain when Silva and Alba started drifting inside, flooding the central area of the pitch and making the champions too predictable. 
 
Still, they should have gone into the break ahead but were denied by some terrific work from Cech, who managed to stop Morata twice. 
 
&quot;We would have seen a different game had one of our chances in the opening half gone in,&quot; reckoned Spain captain Sergio Ramos. 
 
Morata was replaced by Aritz Aduriz in the 62nd minute but he could do little with Spain continuing to produce long spells of possession without any incisive intent or penetration. 
 
Eventually, though, one moment of sheer star quality shone through. Andres Iniesta, still a twinkle-toed Fred Astaire of the modern game at 32, unfurled one curling, inch-perfect cross that simply demanded a thumping Pique finish. 
 
&quot;This is who we are,&quot; the Barcelona maestro Iniesta declared afterwards. &quot;We have achieved so much success because of our style of play. We have played games like this one and it&#39;s just a case of trying and trying, until the ball goes in.&quot; 
 
The problem is that the wait for those goals is incerasingly becoming a test of the Spain supporters&#39; nerves and patience.&nbsp;

Gerard Pique ensured a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic

Spain huffed and puffed, making hard work of their Euro 2016 opener before a late Gerard Pique goal blew away the Czech Republic resistance. Yet the win could not conceal the fact that Vicente del Bosque's champions may be lacking a killer instinct. Until defender Pique's crucial late header, the holders were again largely ineffective in front of goal, just as they had been in their 1-0 loss to Georgia in their final warm-up game last week. Spain had three-quarters of the possession up until the interval and played most of the game in the Czech half, but still did not have the wit or invention to break down their more limited opponents. By the end, the champions had hit the target just five times in their 17 attempts, with Pique's 87th-minute header from a superb Andres Iniesta cross eventually sparing them blushes. It left Spain's coach Vicente del Bosque with an increasingly familiar headache. "It's true that we dominate but we still struggle in front of goal," he sighed afterwards. The most important thing for the coach was that this was at least an improvement on Spain's last three opening games at major tournaments: a defeat in the 2014 World Cup by the Netherlands, a draw with Italy in Euro 2012 and a loss in the 2010 World Cup to Switzerland. They started with a sense of urgency and were most effective when they had David Silva and Jordi Alba stretching the Czech team on the flanks. That enabled them to create the first real opening of the game, with Silva's cross from the right finding Alvaro Morata in the box but his first-touch shot was kept out by the ever-excellent Petr Cech. Problems started for Spain when Silva and Alba started drifting inside, flooding the central area of the pitch and making the champions too predictable. Still, they should have gone into the break ahead but were denied by some terrific work from Cech, who managed to stop Morata twice. "We would have seen a different game had one of our chances in the opening half gone in," reckoned Spain captain Sergio Ramos. Morata was replaced by Aritz Aduriz in the 62nd minute but he could do little with Spain continuing to produce long spells of possession without any incisive intent or penetration. Eventually, though, one moment of sheer star quality shone through. Andres Iniesta, still a twinkle-toed Fred Astaire of the modern game at 32, unfurled one curling, inch-perfect cross that simply demanded a thumping Pique finish. "This is who we are," the Barcelona maestro Iniesta declared afterwards. "We have achieved so much success because of our style of play. We have played games like this one and it's just a case of trying and trying, until the ball goes in." The problem is that the wait for those goals is incerasingly becoming a test of the Spain supporters' nerves and patience.

Defending champs Spain seal last-gasp win

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UEFA Nations League: Spain register another win, beat Czech Republic 3-1

Defending champs Spain seal last-gasp win