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Reigning world champions Spain extended their historic unbeaten run to 39 matches by securing a 3-2 victory over England in a compelling UEFA Nations League Group A3 opener at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. A 74th-minute chip from second-half substitute Mikel Oyarzabal completed a dramatic turnaround for the visitors, echoing his decisive goal from the Euro 2024 final.
The match featured shifting momentum in front of 90,000 spectators. Spain took an immediate lead through Lamine Yamal before Thomas Tuchel's England engineered a rapid first-half comeback with goals from Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane. However, a crucial second-half penalty miss by Harry Kane allowed Spain to regroup, with Álex Baena equalising shortly before Mikel Oyarzabal grabbed the winner.
Match Statistics Overview
The official team performance metrics reflect the competitive nature of the encounter, illustrating Spain's narrow edge in possession and overall passing accuracy.
| Match Statistic | England | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 2 | 3 |
| Possession | 47% | 53% |
| Total Shots (On Target) | 13 (5) | 17 (5) |
| Total Passes (Accurate) | 451 (411) | 498 (448) |
| Passing Accuracy | 91% | 89% |
| Corners Won | 6 | 3 |
| Fouls Committed | 11 | 15 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 | 0 |
Chaotic opening and England's response
Spain required only 107 seconds to expose the England defence. Center-back Marc Guéhi miscontrolled a heavy touch deep inside his own half, allowing 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal to intercept. Lamine Yamal drove into the penalty area and slid a low, left-footed shot past goalkeeper James Trafford to make it 1-0. To celebrate, the teenage sensation sprinted toward the corner flag, pointing to the name on the back of his shirt as the away section erupted.
Spain dominated the following 30 minutes, stretching England's lines with cohesive shifting combinations from midfielders Rodri and Fabián Ruiz. Despite the pressure, the home team found an equalizer in the 36th minute against the run of play. Moving quickly on a counter-attack, Jude Bellingham played a precise one-two before sliding a pass across the edge of the area to Anthony Gordon, who finished clinically into the center of the net. Anthony Gordon celebrated by sliding on his knees toward the Wembley crowd.
The momentum completely shifted four minutes later. Nico O’Reilly sent a high cross into the box, meeting the run of Harry Kane. The England captain hit a diving header that deflected off Spanish full-back Marc Cucurella, beating goalkeeper Unai Simón to hand England a 2-1 advantage going into the interval. Harry Kane celebrated with his trademark fist-pump, jumping in front of the home support.
Harry Kane's penalty miss proves costly
England had a clear opportunity to establish a two-goal cushion eight minutes after the restart. Following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, Spanish midfielder Rodri was found to have fouled Jude Bellingham inside the box, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot.
In the 53rd minute, Harry Kane stepped up but slipped significantly as his standing foot planted into the turf. His resulting penalty kick rose quickly and struck the crossbar, preserving Spain's hope.
Bench changes fuel the Spanish fightback
Recognising the shift in tempo, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente made a double substitution in the 55th minute, bringing on Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal for Ferran Torres and Nico Williams. The strategic changes impacted the match almost immediately.
Five minutes after entering the pitch, Álex Baena capitalised on a loose lateral pass from England's Nico O’Reilly. Intercepting the ball, the substitute drove a low, powerful effort from distance beyond James Trafford's reach to draw Spain level at 2-2. Álex Baena celebrated by kissing the national crest on his jersey before being embraced by his teammates.
Spain continued to manipulate space using their possession structure, eventually creating the winner in the 74th minute. Álex Baena turned provider, slipping a weighted vertical pass into the path of Mikel Oyarzabal, who broke past defender Ezri Konsa. Mikel Oyarzabal calmly anticipated James Trafford’s positioning and dinked a delicate chip over the advancing keeper to seal the 3-2 victory. The forward celebrated by running to the touchline with his arms wide, swarmed by the entire Spanish technical staff.
Thomas Tuchel responded by introducing forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White late on, but Spain's defensive unit managed the remaining minutes effectively.
Group A3 standings and next fixtures
Following the opening matchday of the campaign, Spain occupies the top spot in Group A3 ahead of Croatia on goal difference.
- Spain: 3 points (GD +1)
- Croatia: 3 points (GD +1)
- England: 0 points (GD -1)
- Czech Republic: 0 points (GD -1)
England will travel to play the Czech Republic on Tuesday, September 29, searching for their first points of the tournament, while Spain looks to maintain its historic unbeaten momentum.
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