eplmatches.com

David Villa struck a late winner as Spain fought back from an early deficit against Belgium to continue their 100% start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Villa headed home Dani Guiza’s far-post cross in the 88th minute for his 23rd international goal in only his 40th appearance as Spain overcame the shock of conceding their first goal in seven games.

That effort was scored by Belgium’s in-form striker Wesley Sonck, whose seventh-minute header took his tally to five in four qualifiers, but Spain hit back with a memorable effort from Andres Iniesta before Villa’s late heroics gave them a potentially crucial victory in the Brussels rain.

The result keeps Spain clear at the top of Group Five with four successive wins, while it also stretches their unbeaten run to 27 matches, of which the last 17 have now ended in triumphs – albeit one via a penalty shoot-out victory over Italy at Euro 2008.

7′ Wesley Sonck
36′ Andres Iniesta
88′ David Sánchez Villa