BARRANQUILLA, Colombia – Real Madrid playmaker Sergio Canales sparked Spain to a 2-0 win over Ecuador on Wednesday, and put his team into the second round of the Under-20 World Cup.
Surprising Saudi Arabia also advanced after routing Guatemala 6-0. Nigeria did the same by beating Croatia 5-2, while Costa Rica kept alive its hopes of reaching the second round with a 3-2 victory over Australia.
Spain struggled early against Ecuador in Manizales but picked up the pace after Canales came off the bench in the 56th minute, playing for the first time after a lingering muscle injury.
Canales scored from close range in the 67th and set up Alvaro Vazquez's goal in the 85th.