Spain see off Lithuanian challenge

World and European champions Spain eased past Lithuania 3-1 here on Friday as Fernando Llorente proved a fine deputy for the injured Fernando Torres by claiming a brace.

Spain laboured in the first half as they fought to break down a spirited visiting side but they finally had their reward two minutes after the interval.

Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos darted forward and whipped opver a cross that Athletic Bilbao’s Llorente dispatched to end the home crowd’s growing frustration at Lithuania’s tactic of camping behind the ball and then launching sporadic counter-attacks.

There was a shock six minutes later, however, as Darvydas Sernas scored from Deividas Semberas’s pass, beating an exposed Iker Casillas between the Spanish sticks.

Stung by that, Ramos and company rolled their sleeves up and Santi Cazorla teed up Llorente for another header to put the Spanish back in front within two minutes of Sernas’s leveller.

But it was not until 11 minutes from time that Manchester City’s David Silva made the game safe with another header after Ramos had again shown his attacking qualities with an inviting cross.

Spain now have two wins from two matches, giving them a two-point lead over Group I rivals Scotland and the Lithuanians.