Spain coasted past Austria and into the FIFA World Cup last 16 on Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win, with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.

The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defence in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on.

The win, which could have been by a greater margin – with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork – sets up a tantalising round-of-16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia.

“I’m happy to help the team and get through to the next round. Now we need to rest,” said Oyarzabal directly after full-time. “They were a physical side and difficult to play against, but we played a good match. We’re happy to qualify,” he added.

As to whether he would prefer Portugal or Croatia in Monday’s last-16 match-up, Oyarzabal remarked: “It doesn’t matter who we face in the next round; I have friends in both teams.”

Los Angeles Stadium was a sea of red and excitement over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favourite to the US’s second city.

Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break.

Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.

Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot around the post.

Austria’s defence finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide, left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the goalkeeper.

Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank.

An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was well saved.

Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot.

After the break, Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest.

Austria sent on two giant strikers, Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic, and immediately went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header over the bar.

But in the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a cross onto the head of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first goal for Spain.

Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goal-line clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to rest moments later.

Spain sprayed passes around the pitch as the final minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the crowd, as attention turned to a sterner test on Monday in Dallas.

In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross found a completely unmarked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, who slotted the ball home to seal the victory in style.

[Aljazeera]

Hundreds of members of the Sri Lankan community from across the United States gathered at Tall Timbers Park in New Jersey recently for the 19th Annual Cricket Festival organized by the Ananda College Old Boys’ Association (East Coast), turning threatening skies into a vibrant celebration of cricket, friendship, and Sri Lankan heritage.

The centerpiece of the festival was a fiercely contested cricket tournament featuring old boys representing many of Sri Lanka’s leading schools now residing in the United States. Played in a spirit of healthy rivalry and outstanding sportsmanship, the matches showcased a high standard of cricket that kept spectators engaged throughout the day. Ten teams consisting of old boys from Ananda, Nalanda, Royal, S. Thomas’, St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s, Maris Stella, Mahanama, Trinity and Thurstan represented the tournament. At the conclusion of the tournament, Royal College emerged as champions hoisting the 19th Henry Steel Olcott Trophy, with Maris Stella College finishing as worthy runners-up after an impressive campaign.

The festival was honored by the presence of the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, and Ambassador Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations. Their attendance underscored the importance of the festival in strengthening ties within the Sri Lankan-American community and preserving traditions shared by generations of Sri Lankans living abroad. A Consular Affairs tent sponsored by the USA–Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and staffed by officials from Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations attracted many visitors seeking information on consular services.

Shannon Silva stole the spotlight with a magnificent unbeaten 151, the highest individual score of the day, as De Mazenod College, Kandana cruised to a commanding 181-run victory over St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya in the Under 17 Division I inter-school cricket tournament on Thursday.

‎Silva’s superb knock came off 128 deliveries and featured 17 boundaries and three sixes, guiding De Mazenod to a formidable 293. The bowlers then completed the job in style, with Bipun Alwis producing a match-winning spell to claim five wickets and dismiss St. Sebastian’s well short of the target.

‎Meanwhile, Jaffna Hindu College strengthened their position at the top of their group by extending their unbeaten run with a convincing 46-run win over Kingswood College at Anuradhapura. The victory was Jaffna Hindu’s sixth of the tournament, underlining their dominance in the competition through another disciplined all-round performance.

‎At Bambalapitiya, St. Peter’s College inflicted Mahanama College’s second successive defeat in the space of three days, recording an 88-run victory. Mahiru Gunathilake (3 for 13) and Diyon Alwis (3 for 23) spearheaded the bowling attack with three wickets each as Mahanama were restricted to 147 in pursuit of their target.

‎In another high-scoring encounter, Reyan Shehara struck a brilliant 116 off 123 balls, including nine fours and four sixes, to lead St. Benedict’s College to an imposing total of 309 against Galahitiyawa Central College at Godagamuwa. Thareen Perera and Sandith Henuka added valuable half-centuries before the Benedictine bowlers combined effectively to limit Galahitiyawa Central to 167 for four, sealing a comprehensive victory. (RF)