Rustenburg - The European Champions, Spain proved why they are number one in the FIFA rankings when they crushed New Zealand 5-0 in the second match of the FIFA 2009 Confederations Cup.
This tremendous encounter played at the renewed Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Sunday evening saw Spain giving New Zealand a difficult yet exciting game.
The unyielding and well organised Spanish side dominated the game from the start to an end which resulted in New Zealand players being exposed and bagging four goals within the first 30 minutes.
The world acclaimed Liverpool star, Fernando Torres scored the first hat-trick in FIFA Confederations Cup history as Spain made a sublime entrance to the 2009 tournament.
Torres hit three in the first 17 minutes to give fans at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium plenty to cheer after host South Africa opened the competition with a dull 0-0 draw against Iraq earlier in the day.
Spain had opened their account three minutes into the first half, and Torres created goal number five six minutes into the second half.
Spain and Torres had two after 14 minutes as Villarreal middlefielder Albert Riera and Valencia striker David Villa combined down the left before Torres side-footed into the far corner.
The hat-trick goal, after just 17 minutes, was beautifully simple. Torres rose to power home a header from Villarreal defender Joan Capdevila's cross from the left.
Though they were leading with three goals to nil, Spain Coach Vicente del Bosque appeared to be unimpressed.
New Zealand were in danger of conceding an embarrassing number of goals as a slick passing move involving Xavi, Capdevila twice, and Riera ended with the Villarreal man providing Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas this time with the easiest of tap-ins.
Valencia striker David Villa found the back of the net in the second half after a disastrous error from New Zealand defender Andy Boyens.
Despite South Africa's disappointing goalless draw against Iraq in the terrific tournaments opener at the Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, fans were in party mood in Rustenburg.
The expression of the New Zealand coaching staff said it all, possibly they are not the first and won't be the last team to fall victim to a five-star performance from the world's number one ranked team.
