Inma Gabarro of Spain scores the team's first goal against Australia in their 3-0 win at the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup. Credit: FIFA/Getty

A hat-trick from centre-forward Inma Gabarro has seen Spain through to the knockout stage of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup with a 3-0 win over Australia in Alajuela, Costa Rica on Tuesday night (Wednesday afternoon AEST).

Two goals before half time and a third on the hour mark indelibly stamped Sevilla striker Gabarro’s name on the match, a result which sees La Roja top the group on goal difference ahead of Brazil.

Having chosen a second-string starting XI in their 5-0 win against hosts Costa Rica, Spanish manager Pedro López welcomed back Basque pair Ane Elexperu and Maite Zubieta, with Asun Martínez and Silvia Lloris also stepping into their regular positions.

Young Matildas manager Leah Blayney again kept faith with the majority of her charges, with only Kahli Johnson and Sheridan Gallagher missing out on starting spots in favour of former Levante winger Abbey Lemon and Sydney striker-turned-Ms.-Fix-It Charlize Rule.

Perhaps to Spain’s surprise, Australia had the better of the opening exchanges – especially in the attacking half – with the two teams evenly splitting possession in the opening quarter hour as Bryleeh Henry and Lemon registered chances inside eight minutes.

Australia could have – and should have – opened the scoring after 17 minutes after some positive lead-up play across the front four, only for Daniela Galić to blaze a gilt-edged chance over the open goal from adjacent to the penalty spot.

And the Young Matildas were made to pay almost instantly through Gabarro, who weaselled her way between defenders on her way to the back post, meeting Júlia Bartel’s classy low cross just in front of the goal line to tuck home Spain’s opener in the 18th minute.

Just six minutes later Gabarro had Spain’s second goal of the evening and her third of the group stage, expertly darting in and away from defensive cover Naomi Thomas-Chinnama to meet Esther Laborde’s cross on the six-yard box and shovel her shot into the roof of the net.

Despite being two goals in arrears the less-fancied Young Matildas forged ahead, immediately pressuring the Spanish defence in and around their penalty area with three quick-fire chances before the half-hour mark.

More than capable of playing through their opponents’ lines, Australia seemed to miss a yard of pace or a deft touch in the crucial moments, spurning opportunities to final the final ball time and again under pressure from recovering Spanish defenders.

Having contained their opponents for the majority of the first half and needing three points to progress, manager Blayney rang the changes for the second 45, replacing Lemon with Gallagher and sending Novocastrian defender Kirsty Fenton on in place of Jamila Rankin; Spain, too, went for the jugular, withdrawing Esther Laborde in favour of striker Mirari Uria as La Roja looked to ensure top spot in group A with an improved goal difference.

The second half continued much as the first, as first Sarah Hunter and then Gabarro and Martínez troubled their respective opposing goalkeepers from distance in the opening stages after the break.

That Spanish pressure eventually told just after the hour as Gambarro notched her third and secured the match ball for her mantelpiece, capitalising on chaotic attempted clearances and disorganised Australian defending to smash her shot through a sea of bodies and beyond James for a three-goal lead.

With his striker’s souvenir assured, López had seen enough and withdrew Gambarro and Martínez ahead of the team’s upcoming quarter-final, turning to his bench again with 20 minutes to play to introduce Barcelona goalkeeper Maritxell Font in place of Adriana Nanclares.

As their tournament seemed to be flickering out into darkness, the Young Matildas looked to surge forward once again, only to have potential raids snuffed out by the flag of the referee’s assistant or turned away once again my Spain’s clinical defence.

Australia 0
Spain 3 (Gabarro 18′ 24′ 61′)

Australia: Sally James; Jamilla Rankin (Kirsty Fenton 46′), Ella Tonkin, Naomi Thomas-Chinnama, Jessika Nash; Sarah Hunter, Hana Lowry (Greta Kraszula 84′), Daniela Galić (Kahli Johnson 77′); Bryleeh Henry (Cushla Rue 63′), Charlize Rule, Abbey Lemon (Sheridan Gallagher 46′).
Yellow cards: Nash 74′.

Spain: Adriana Nanclares (Maritxell Font 70′); Andrea Medina (Fiamma Iannuzzi 85′), Silvia Lloris, Ana Tejada, Esther Laborde (Mirari Uria 46′); Adriana Mingueza, Maite Zubieta, Júlia Bartel; Asun Martínez (Izarne Sarasola 62′), Inma Gabarro (María Vignola 62′), Ane Elexpuru.
Yellow cards: Laborde 33′, Bartel 56′, Medina 76′.

Other results:
Brazil 5 Costa Rica 0 at Estadio Nacional, San José

Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 SPAIN 3 2 1 0 8 0 +8 7
2 BRAZIL 3 2 1 0 7 0 +7 7
3 AUSTRALIA 2 1 0 2 3 6 -3 3
4 COSTA RICA 2 0 0 2 1 13 −12 0

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