Spain 5-1 Slovakia

Luis Garcia celebrates his second goal against Slovakia

Liverpool forward Luis Garcia scored a brilliant hat-trick as Spain thumped 10-man Slovakia 5-1 in the first leg of their World Cup play-off.

Xavi set up Garcia for his first two goals, but Szilard Nemeth pulled one back following Garcia's mistake.

Spain resumed control when Fernando Torres scored from the spot and Marian Had was sent off for his protests.

Garcia then completed his hat-trick and substitute Fernando Morientes wrapped up an emphatic win with a late header.

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Spain: Casillas, Salgado, Del Horno, Puyol, Pablo,Albelda (Alonso 66), Xavi, Luis Garcia (Morientes 76), Torres, Reyes (Vicente 56), Raul.
Subs Not Used: Reina, Sergio, Juanito, Villa. Booked: Albelda.

Goals: Luis Garcia 10, 18, Torres 65 pen, Luis Garcia 74, Morientes 79.

Slovakia: Contofalsky, Petras, Skrtel, Kratochvil, Had, Zabavnik, Karhan (Janocko 73), Hlinka, Hodur (Gresko 67), Holosko (Nemeth 46), Vittek.
Subs Not Used: Kelemen, Durica, Varga, Krajcik. Sent Off: Had (64).

Booked: Had, Karhan, Hlinka, Skrtel.

Goals: Nemeth 49.

Att: 55,000

Ref: Massimo De Santis (Italy).