Spain made a resounding statement in FIFA World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) Group E, overpowering Turkey with a masterful 6-0 victory. The dominant performance in Konya was highlighted by a stunning hat-trick from midfielder Mikel Merino and a brace from Pedri.
The visitors wasted no time, with Pedri silencing the home crowd just six minutes into the match. The Barcelona star effortlessly jinked past Hakan ÇalhanoÄŸlu before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Spain’s relentless attack continued, and in the 22nd minute, Merino scored his first goal, finishing a quick-passing move inside the box. He would add his second just before halftime, cutting into space to fire home another composed finish.
Merino completed his hat-trick in spectacular fashion after the break, curling a brilliant strike from outside the box into the top corner. His performance cemented his status as a key figure in Spain’s midfield, and he walked away with the match ball.
The second half also saw Ferran Torres mark his 50th Spain appearance with a goal, capping off a swift counterattack. Pedri rounded out the scoring with his second goal of the night, taking Spain’s tally to three goals in nine minutes.
The victory, which also marked Spain’s 11th clean sheet in their last 15 away WCQ matches, puts them three points clear at the top of Group E after just two games. The only negative for the team was an injury to Nico Williams in the first half, but the overall result was a clear sign of Spain’s formidable form as they continue their unbeaten run of over two years in competitive matches.
