CONFEDERATIONS CUP: SPAIN STRIKER Fernando Torres scored a stunning hat-trick in the opening 17 minutes to inspire competition favourites Spain to a 5-0 rout of New Zealand yesterday.

The European champions stretched their unbeaten run to 33 matches, further goals from Cesc Fabregras and David Villa putting them firmly on top of Group A after hosts South Africa and Iraq drew 0-0 in the opening game in Johannesburg.

The match was virtually all over as a contest after only six minutes when Torres sent in a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area well out of the reach of New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss.

The Oceania champions were undone again eight minutes later when Albert Riera and David Villa combined on the left to create the second for Torres.

Villa provided the sweetest cross and Torres steered the ball home with a well-taken shot despite being surrounded by defenders.

Three minutes later Torres completed his hat-trick with a powerful header from Juan Capdevila’s cross and Fabregas’s close-range finish assured Spain of their 13th successive win and 11th straight victory under coach Vicente Del Bosque.

Spain, who have not lost since Romania beat them 1-0 in a friendly in Cadiz in 2006, continued to create chances with Riera thundering in a shot which Moss did well to save.

Things got no better for New Zealand after half-time when defender Andy Boyens made a mess of the simplest cross from Torres, allowing the ball to run to Villa, who had scored a hat-trick in Spains 6-0 friendly win over Azerbaijan last week.

That was Villa’s 29th goal in 45 internationals, putting him level with Fernando Hierro as Spains joint-second highest scorer, 15 behind Rauls record haul of 44.

Underlying everything was Spain’s slick passing and movement which provided a treat for the disappointingly sparse but enthusiastic crowd in the 44,000 capacity stadium.

Meanwhile, South African striker Bernard Parker said he wanted to “drop dead on the spot” after blocking a goal-bound effort that could have won his side the opening match yesterday.

The 23-year-old ran into the path of a header from team-mate Kagisho Dikgacoi, stopping it from crossing the goal line as the hosts made a late burst to try and win the match at Ellis Park.

Dikgacoi’s header had beaten the Iraqi goalkeeper and looked set to snatch victory near the end of tedious game but Parker, sprinting into the goalmouth, could not get out the way.

“I can’t turn back the hands of time. I’ll just have to put it behind me and focus on our next game. But when the ball hit me, I just wanted to drop dead on the spot. It happens, it’s football,” Parker told reporters after the game.

South Africa now effectively need a win in their next game against New Zealand on Wednesday to have any hope of reaching the semi-finals of the eight-team tournament.

Iraq coach Bora Milutinovic is optimistic the team can make the semi-finals of the competition after holding hosts.

“We now have a chance to go through. It wasn’t easy for my players because it’s a new competition for them and I didn’t have much time to prepare them, but if we can get another good result we can progress,” the Serbian said.

“What was important for me is my players made a real effort, they tried to do what I told them. We are delighted that we have made the Iraqi people happy.”

Iraq play Spain on Wednesday in the eight-team tournament but it is their final group match against New Zealand at the weekend that they will be looking to for positive result.