ZAPOPAN, Mexico (Interstat) — Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 on Friday at Estadio Akron in a World Cup group-stage match, riding an early second-half goal from substitute Alex Baena to take control of Group H.

Baena, a midfielder entering in the first half, scored the lone goal in the 42nd minute, finishing from close range with his right foot. He also contributed an assist, one of four on the night for Spain, which improved to 2-0-1 in the competition and 7-0-2 across all competitions.

Uruguay, meanwhile, dropped to 0-1-1 in the group and 0-1-1 overall. The home side struggled to generate attacking chances and was reduced to 10 men in second-half stoppage time when midfielder Agustín Canobbio received a red card in the 90th minute plus five.

Yellow cards punctuated a physical contest. Baena was booked in the 46th minute, followed by Uruguay midfielder Juan Manuel Sanabria in the 54th, defender Guillermo Varela in the 58th and midfielder Nicolás de la Cruz in the 90th minute plus three.

Spain controlled possession for long stretches. Baena’s goal came after a build-up that started with a pass from defender Guillermo Varela, who was credited with an assist. Sanabria and de la Cruz also recorded assists on the sequence, though only one goal was scored in the match.

Spain’s recent form includes a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia on June 21, a scoreless draw with Cape Verde Islands on June 15, a 2-2 draw with Turkiye in November, and a string of victories against Georgia U19, Bulgaria, Georgia and Turkiye earlier in the season.

Uruguay’s recent results include a 2-2 draw with Cape Verde Islands on June 21 and a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia on June 15.

The match marked the first meeting between the two nations in the tournament’s group stage. Spain’s defense held firm, with Uruguay failing to register a shot on target in the second half.

The victory gave Spain an early advantage in the group standings, setting up a decisive final group match. Uruguay, still searching for its first win, faces a must-win scenario in its next fixture.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Spain 2, Uruguay 1. Interstat’s ELO system had given Spain an 86.50 percent probability to win.