Juanfran (L), Llorente and Molinera (R) celebrate the goal of Spain's Llorente against Morocco during their FIFA World Youth Championships match at the Vijverberg stadium in Doetinchem, Netherlands June 11, 2005. (REUTERS) Paul Vreeker 
   
Spain strolled to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Morocco in the opening game in Group C of the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 in Doetinchem. Despite battling hard in front of a sizeable contingent of Moroccan fans, the North Africans' profligacy in front of goal, carelessness in defence and an off night for keeper Bourkadi combined to hand the points to Spain. 
  
The enthusiastic crowd that packed into the Vejverberg Stadium hours before kick-off had to wait half an hour for the game to spring into life. The Spaniards, bereft of ideas up front, made a sluggish start with their respectful opponents trying only brief forays into the opposing half, although Rachid Tiberkanine, Nabil El Zhar and Mouhssine lajour were combining to good effect on the left. 
  
The Group C favourites, meanwhile, were content to launch long balls up to towering Athletic Bilbao striker Llorente. The first real chance fell to Morocco's lajour, who could only shoot tamely at Biel Ribas in the Spanish goal following a fine ball from El Zhar. 
  
It was Spain who struck first, however, on 28 minutes following a glaring mistake by Ahmed Kantari. The Moroccan defender's weak back-pass was easily intercepted by the alert Llorente who sent a delightful chip over the keeper. 
  
"The goal came at just the right time. We took the first half very seriously and to get off to a winning start is essential. The win gives us a lot of hope for the rest of the tournament. To be honest, Morocco were a lot tougher than we expected, and we couldn't afford to relax at any time," said Spain coach Inaki Saez at the end of the game. 
  
Morocco responded well to the setback and went on the offensive immediately. lajour came close to equalising within five minutes of Llorente's strike, but after wriggling past three defenders inside the box, he shot straight into Biel Ribas's hands.  
  
Spain's Molinero (L) challenges Morocco's Mouhssine Lajour during their FIFA World Youth Championships match at the Vijverberg stadium in Doetinchem, Netherlands June 11, 2005. (REUTERS) Paul Vreeker  
  
Morocco's insistence almost paid dividends after another foray by Iajour, this time down the right, who found Tiberkanine in space with only the keeper to beat. The Ajax player must still be wondering just how he managed to hit his shot so far over from no more than six yards out.  
  
Spain came out for the second half with a renewed sense of purpose as they went in search of a second goal to kill the game off. They did not have long to wait as it transpired, after a mix-up in the Moroccan defence allowed Silva to get in a cross. Molinero brought the ball down deftly and, from all of 20 yards, let fly with such venom that Bourkadi could only parry the effort before it crept over the goal line (2-0, 51'). 
  
Two down, Fathi Jamal had little option but to chase the game, replacing defender Kantari with another striker Adil Chihi, but the change added little bite to the African's attack. The Moroccan defence continued to court disaster with an indecisive Bourkadi not enjoying the best of evenings in goal. If he showed a soft pair of hands with the second goal, the third was even worse. 
   
Silva curled in a free kick from out on the right wing hoping to find the head of a team-mate. The ball bounced on the edge of the six-yard box and the hapless keeper, seemingly more focused on the onrushing strikers than the ball, was caught flat-footed as it flew into the top corner (3-0, 71'). 
  
Morocco then tried their luck from a free kick that just shaved the post, and later with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box, which the Spanish keeper dealt with easily. The Moroccan goal came from the penalty spot after Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda blew for a foul on Tarik Bendamou by Markel, just as the striker was running into the area. Biel Ribas guessed right but was unable to get enough of a hand on Rida Doulyazal's spot kick, and it went in off the post (3-1, 84'). 
   
"We came up against a very strong side and paid dearly for our first mistake. Some of our players need to improve their concentration as they tended to lapse during stages of the game. We'll work on this for our next game," the Moroccan coach said afterwards.