Morata shines as Spain beat Malta

TA’ QALI, Malta: Alvaro Morata’s remarkable revival continued on Tuesday as he scored twice for Spain in a 2-0 victory over Malta.

After edging past Norway 2-1 on Saturday, Morata’s double at the Ta’ Qali Stadium gives Spain two wins from two in Euro 2020 football qualifying and the perfect start in Group F.

Luis Enrique’s side again showed the inability to convert possession into chances that clouded their early exit from last year’s World Cup.

But Morata’s brace offers room for encouragement, the striker extending his return to form since he joined Atletico Madrid on loan from Chelsea in January.

He has five goals in six games, his best return since September 2017, and has strengthened his case for a position that has proved so troublesome for Spain in recent years.

Malta lie 182nd in FIFA’s world rankings, between Liechtenstein and Macau. Their win over the Faroe Islands last weekend was their first in 17 matches and only their second in almost four years.

Luis Enrique was absent for “personal reasons”, leaving his assistant Robert Moreno in charge on the touchline. There were unfamiliar faces on the pitch too as only three players — Sergio Ramos, Morata and Marco Asensio — retained their places in a much-changed line-up from the team that beat Norway.

Six of Spain’s starting 11 owned five caps or fewer, including Real Betis’ attacking midfielder Sergio Canales and Mario Hermoso, the 23-year-old Espanyol defender linked with a summer move to Real Madrid.

Morata’s first, shortly after the half-hour, owed much to Malta’s goalkeeper Henry Bonello, who failed to stop the forward’s scuffed finish after Hermoso’s clipped pass over the top.

Sergi Roberto’s cross almost gave Morata his second, only for the glancing header to flash wide, but he did not have long to wait.

Jesus Navas delivered another ball to the back post in the 73rd minute and this time Morata made no mistake.

In Parma, Fabio Quagliarella attributed his new-found serenity after years of a stalker nightmare to his stunning form as the 36-year-old on Tuesday became the oldest football player to score for Italy.

The player from Castellammare di Stabia near Naples converted two penalties in a crushing 6-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win by the Azzurri over Liechtenstein in Parma.

Italy top Group J with six points after also beating Finland 2-0 in Udine on Saturday with goals from youngsters Nicolo Barella, 22, and 19-year-old Moise Kean.

Bosnia threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Greece and both are behind Italy on four points followed by Finland on three.

Serie A top scorer Quagliarella has earned his recall to Roberto Mancini’s new-look Italy thanks to his 21 goals in 28 league games, two more than Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has managed for Juventus.

And he marked his return for the Azzurri after nearly nine years by converting a penalty on 35 minutes, adding a second, also from the spot, just before the break.

The Sampdoria player at 36 years and 54 days becomes the oldest player to score for Italy, overtaking Christian Panucci who was 35 years and 62 days when he netted in 2008.