Fans feel the pain as Spain beat Saudis

World Cup hopefuls Spain secured their objective of finishing top of Group H with a stuttering 1-0 win over whipping boys Saudi Arabia here on Friday. Real Betis defender Juanito's header in the 37th minute was enough for Luis Aragones' side to seal their third win of the campaign and secure a second round match with the runner-up in Group G.

However after making three changes in the second half, Spain coach Luis Aragones was left hanging his head in frustration by a second half in which the Saudis came close to levelling on several occasions.

It still meant a maximum haul of nine points from three games though and Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes said that whoever Spain next came up against they believed in themselves.

"We are not bothered who we get next. Spain just wants to win.

We want to go a lot further." Real Betis midfielder Joaquin said Spain had had to battle to ensure they maintained their 100 percent record.

"They kept us on our toes in the second half but this is one more step on the road to (the final in) Berlin." Fielding a 'second string' starting lineup, it took a while for Spain to get into their stride before finishing the first half unlucky not to have scored more goals.

In the first half hour alone the lively Joaquin, Raul, David Albelda and Cesc Fabregas all had shots stopped by impressive Saudi keeper Mabrouk Zaid.

Reyes, who was substituted in the second half having made his World Cup debut, then sent in a freekick which Juanito headed past the Al Ittihad keeper.

That opened up the floodgates, and despite a brief scare for Spain when Saudi legend Sami Al-Jaber saw his rare, and softly-hit shooting chance easily collected by Santiago Canizares, Spain were never really in trouble.

Raul, starting his 98th appearance in the starting lineup for the first time in the campaign, was replaced by David Villa for the second half.

The Valencia striker scored two goals in the 4-0 rout of Ukraine and his presence was felt almost immediately, although he stumbled after being sent through on the left and his cut-back for Lopez was shot was wide.

Saudi Arabia had a rare chance at goal moments later, but Canizares easily collected Hussein Sulimani's well-struck shot despite at first spilling it.

An angled shot from Joaquin then crept wide of Zaid's post after a string of passes around the Saudi area had the desert kingdom side's defence in tatters.

Saudi Arabia were beginning to find more space up front, however they were given little quarter by the Spanish defence.

Aragones then decided it was time for change, but after he replaced Fabregas with Barcelona's Xavi and, minutes later, Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres for Reyes the fans were left wondering why.

Spain lost all shape, and the Saudis enjoyed a spell of putting the pressure on which led to jeers and whistling by the majority Spanish attendance.

The Saudis' first real chance came just after the hour mark, but after a good build-up in midfield Sulimani's off-target first-timer was easily parried by Canizares.

Second half substitute Malek al-Hawsawi then got his head to a corner but the ball was bundled out.

A freekick in the final 10 minutes then forced Canizares into action at his near post.

In the final five minutes of the match Spain attempted to appease their fans but despite several chances for Torres, including claims for a penalty after he appeared to be impeded, the second goal was not to come.

Indeed Spain were lucky not to have to share the points when Mohammed Noor beat Albelda at the byeline and cut back the ball for Saad al-Harthi, only for his first-time shot to curl high over the bar.