Spanish avoid major upset

Tunisia 1 Spain 3: Spain avoided catastrophic upset when they came back from a goal down with 20 minutes left to beat Tunisia 3-1 and secure their place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Tunisia stunned Spain, who started their campaign so well with a 4-0 win over Ukraine, with a goal by Joahar Mnari in the eighth minute of the Group H game.  Roger Lemerre's side looked as if they could pull off one of the biggest shocks of the tournament as they repelled wave after wave of Spanish attacks.

Spain lead the group with six points from two games, with Ukraine on three and Tunisia and Saudi Arabia on one. The latter three can all still qualify.

Spain skipper Raul and fellow substitute Cesc Fabregas turned the course of the match after halftime.

Raul pounced on the rebound after Fabregas's low shot from the edge of the area was parried by keeper Ali Bomunijel to level the scores 19 minutes from time.

Five minutes later Fabregas fed a great through ball to the feet of Fernando Torres who rounded Boumnijel and steered the ball into the empty net.

Torres then grabbed his second goal from the penalty spot, and became top scorer at the tournament with three goals, when he fired home in the first minute of stoppage time.

Torres has now scored three at the finals.

Spain lead the group with six points from two games, with Ukraine on three and Tunisia and Saudi Arabia on one. The latter three can all still qualify.