Magic Mata settles Spanish nerves

Spain held firm in the face of a rousing fightback from Turkey to open their UEFA European Under-19 Championship Group B campaign with an exhilarating 5-3 win, Real Madrid CF forward Juan Mata scoring a fine hat-trick.

Spain hold out
Alberto Bueno headed Spain into an early lead in Grodzisk Wielkopolski and, although İlhan Parlak equalised, two excellent Mata finishes – the second a perfect chip – and a fourth from Toni seemed to have ended Turkish hopes by the 53rd minute. Instead Parlak struck again and Serdar Kurtulus set up a tense finale with Turkey's third. Spain held firm, however, Mata racing clear to slide in a fifth seconds before the final whistle and will look to build on this win in their second match against Scotland on Thursday, when Turkey will hope to bounce back against Portugal.

Diving header
The match was a repeat of the 2004 final, when it had taken Spain until the 88th minute to find a way through the Turkish rearguard. On this occasion Ginés Meléndez's side pressed forward from the whistle, with Toni causing problems three times inside the opening ten minutes before Jeffrén Suárez flashed a shot just wide. It was little surprise when Spain did make the breakthrough, Mata swinging across a quick right-wing free-kick and Bueno getting in front of his marker to glance a diving header past Volkan Babacan.

Parlak reply
Strangely the goal seemed to sweep away any lingering Turkish nerves and a good move involving captain Cafercan Aksu and Arda Turan provided a chance for Parlak, but his effort was blocked. The forward would not be denied, however, and moments later latched on to Turan's through-ball to calmly round Antonio Adán and roll in an equaliser. Spain quickly regained the initiative as Turkey were unable to clear a throw-in and the ball broke perfectly for Mata to volley in. The same player made it 3-1 before half-time with an exquisite effort, lofting a perfect chip from outside the area over the despairing Babacan's outstretched hand.

Toni on target
Spain added a fourth eight minutes into the second period, working space in the Turkish penalty area before Bueno unselfishly laid off for Toni to beat Babacan with a low finish. Parlak pulled a goal back just past the hour with an emphatic finish and Spanish confidence started to look misplaced as good work from substitute Aydın Yılmaz gave Kutulus the chance to make it 4-3 in the 65th minute. Turkey were unable to find a fourth goal, however, and Mata skipped through in the final seconds to score the fifth and finally kill off Turkey's challenge.