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AAP
AAP
Sport
Justin Chadwick

Spain beat Czech Republic 3-0 at Cup of Nations

Spanish players celebrate Athenea del Castillo's penalty against Czech Republic. (Darren Pateman/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Esther Gonzalez has scored a double to lead Spain to a 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic in their Cup of Nations showdown at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Gonzalez broke the game open with goals in the 29th and 40th minutes in Wednesday's rain-swept clash, before Athenea del Castillo sealed the deal with an 84th-minute penalty.

The result means Australia must snare at least a draw against Jamaica on Wednesday night in order to win the Cup of Nations.

It was a deserved win for Spain, who enjoyed 75 per cent possession and also dominated the overall shot count (19-3) and corners (7-0).

Gonzalez enjoyed the spoils in the first half but it was Sheila Garcia who was the key player in the first goal.

Garcia worked hard to win the ball back outside the box, then combined with Irene Guerrero for a one-two pass before squaring the ball to Gonzalez for an easy tap-in.

Marta Cardona helped set up the second goal with a pin-point cross that a leaping Gonzalez headed into the bottom corner.

The Czech Republic thought they pegged a goal back in the 49th minute when captain Petra Bertholdova unleashed a powerful volley - players and coaches celebrated for about 10 seconds before realising it had been ruled out for offside.

Del Castillo made it 3-0 when she was tripped up in the box and converted her own penalty.

Czech defender Aneta Dedinova endured a tough day.

She came off the field for treatment after an elbow to the nose left her bleeding, and she was red carded in the dying moments of the match for a second bookable offence.

Spain have now won seven of their eight matches against the Czechs, to go along with one draw in 2007.

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