Spain beats South Korea 1-0 in World Cup warmup

Spain beats South Korea 1-0 in World Cup warmup

Published Jun. 3, 2010 7:29 p.m. ET

Midfielder Jesus Navas' first goal for Spain gave the European champion a 1-0 win over South Korea in a World Cup warmup on Thursday.

Navas found the net in the 85th minute with a powerful 25-meter (yard) shot just after South Korea goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong had denied Spain striker David Villa, who came on as a substitute.

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas appeared in Spain's starting lineup for the first time since breaking his leg in early April and stayed on for almost an hour.

The Arsenal captain was not able to stamp his authority on the game, but came close in the 36th minute when his curling shot hit the crossbar.

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Spain struggled to find openings in the South Korean defense, and had no presence up front for the first hour of the match without its key strikers Villa and Fernando Torres.

Villa came off the bench to gave the Spanish attack more power, but Torres was ruled out as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes made his Spain debut when he started the second half in place of Pepe Reina, who had prevented his team from falling behind when he saved a shot from unmarked Park Chu-Young in the closing seconds of the first half.

Spain plays Poland in Murcia on Tuesday in its final warmup match before the World Cup, where it plays Switzerland, Honduras and Chile in Group H.

South Korea is in Group B with Greece, Argentina and Nigeria at the South Africa tournament, which starts June 11.

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Lineups:

Spain: Pepe Reina (Victor Valdes, 46), Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol, Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila, Juan Mata (Pedro Rodriguez, 57), Cesc Fabregas (Xavi Hernandez, 57), Andres Iniesta (Xabi Alonso, 57), Javi Martinez (David Silva, 79), Jesus Navaz, Fernando Llorente (David Villa, 57).

South Korea: Lee Woon-jae (Jung Sung-ryong, 46), Oh Beom-seok, Lee Jung-soo, Cho Yong-hyung, Lee Young-pyo, Ki Sung-yong (Cha Du-ri, 80), Kim Jung-woo, Kim Jae-sung (Kim Nam-il, 46), Lee Chung-yong, Park Chu-Young, Yeom Ki-hun (Ahn Jung-hwan, 65).

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