[Confed Cup] Group A Matchday 1 Review

Fernando Torres hit a first-half hat-trick as Spain kicked off their FIFA Confederations Cup campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Group A rivals New Zealand in Rustenburg.

The Liverpool forward struck three times in 13 minutes to put the result beyond doubt with just 17 minutes played, as the UEFA Euro 2008 winners cruised to victory against the Oceania champions.

Torres made a sixth-minute breakthrough when he curled the ball in from 20 metres and doubled the lead eight minutes later by turning in David Villa's pass. He completed his hat-trick when he headed home a Joan Capdevila cross.

Cesc Fabregas added the fourth on 24 minutes before Villa rounded off the scoring three minutes into the second half as La Roja stretched their record unbeaten run to 33 matches.

Earlier, Asian champions Iraq had put a dampener on South Africa's opening party, holding the hosts to a 0-0 draw in this dress-rehearsal for next year's first FIFA World Cup finals to be staged in Africa.

World champions Italy kick off against the USA in Group B in Pretoria on Monday night, while holders Brazil face Egypt.

[FIFA Confederations Cup 2009]

Source: UEFA