LENS, June 25: Spain finally found their World Cup form tonight, thrashing Bulgaria 6-1 but it was too late to save them from going out of the event.Seen as strong contenders before the World Cup kicked off, Spain's fate was out of their own hands and Paraguay's surprise win over Group D leaders Nigeria meant they could not qualify for the second round. Bulgaria, semi-finalists in 1994, were also eliminated.The Spaniards got the perfect start with two goals in the first 18 minutes. They went 3-0 up early in the second half before Bulgaria grabbed a goal back. But Spain's Francisco Morientes made it 4-1 with his second goal 10 minutes from time and Kiko added the fifth and sixth in the 88th and 90th minutes.
Spain took the lead in the sixth minute with a penalty from Fernando Hierro after Bulgarian defender Ivailo Yordanov had brought down midfielder Luis Enrique as he weaved his way into the penalty box.
They doubled their lead 12 minutes later through the skillful Luis Enrique, who latched on to aJoseba Etxeberria cross and cut in from the right to score with a close-range shot which bounced off goalkeeper Zdravko on its way into the net.
Spain went 3-0 up in the 53rd minute when Morientes finished off a sweeping move.
Emil Kostadinov, another of Bulgaria's veterans, gave his team some hope when he swivelled and fired in a shot off the post in the 57th minute which was also Bulgaria's first goal in this year's competition.
Morientes struck again as Spain caught Bulgaria on the break and Kiko finished a brave but vain fight with his two late goals.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
