Superb Spain overwhelm hosts

Spain threw down the gauntlet in Group A as they got their UEFA European Under-17 Championship campaign under way with a tournament-record win against Luxembourg.

Aaron double
The tournament hosts endured a torrid evening in Hesperange, and were always up against it after Spain raced into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 18 minutes. Two goals from Aaron Niguez, either side of Rubén Ramón's strike, left the Spaniards cruising before a second-half hat-trick from substitute Bojan Krkić helped them to an emphatic scoreline.

Historic debut
Spain started cautiously, though, content to gauge the unknown quantity of a Luxembourg side appearing in the finals of a UEFA competition for the first time. However, after Richard Jankowoy's tentative attack was ended on the edge of the Spanish penalty box, Juan Santisteban's side began to press. Aaron Niguez broke the deadlock on six minutes, drilling a low shot that crept beneath the shaky Fabiano Castellani.

Luxembourg resolve
Six minutes later the goalkeeper was again culpable, losing his bearings after a testing cross was diverted on to the crossbar and Ramón headed the rebound into the unguarded net. It was 3-0 midway through the half, when Aaron converted Emilio Nsue's pin-point pass. Luxembourg showed some resolve, keeping Spain at bay until five minutes before the interval when only a last-ditch tackle denied Emilio. From the ensuing corner, Rubén Ramos chipped an adroit shot on to the crossbar as the hosts held on until half-time.

Krkit impact
But it proved a brief reprieve as a goal from José Hermosa and Krkić's hat-trick sealed a big win for Spain, although Miralem Pjanic did provide some cheer with a stunning consolation late on. The sides are in action again on Friday, when Spain face Russia in Hesperange. Igor Kolyvanov's side also opened their Group A account today, with a victory against Hungary who now meet Luxembourg.