Spain 8-0 Scotland: Visitors fall to huge defeat in World Cup qualifying

Scotland's unbeaten start to their Women's World Cup qualifying campaign came to a painful end as rampant Spain put eight past them in Seville.

Abi Harrison hit the crossbar for Scotland before the hosts made their superiority count and Pedro Martinez Losa's side stay second in Group B, now five points behind Spain.

The Scots have a four-point gap to Hungary, who beat Ukraine 4-2 at home to move third.

Had it not been for the heroics of goalkeeper Lee Alexander, Scotland would have suffered an even heavier defeat, with Spain extending their astonishing winning run to 16 games and 96 goals scored without conceding.

• Spain thrashing 'doesn't change anything'
• Reaction & as it happened

Scotland's daunting task was amplified pre-match when Barcelona midfielder Putellas proudly showed off the Ballon d'Or trophy she had won the previous day in Paris.

The visitors were inches from claiming a shock lead as Harrison - the last-gasp hero in the draw with Ukraine on Friday - pounced on a stray pass in the Spain box to thump a shot against the crossbar.

That was as good as it got for the visitors on Martinez Losa's miserable return to his homeland.

Spain had already gone close a couple of times when their relentless pressure paid off in the 20th minute as Sarriegi planted a header beyond Alexander from Leila Ouahabi's cross.

The pick of Alexander's raft of first-half saves saw her thwart Caldentey with a brilliant point-blank stop.

Alexander blotted her heroics moments later, though, when she got a hand to Caldentey's 25-yard drive but could not prevent it nestling in the net.

And Scotland were again culpable for the third before half-time. Sophie Howard's header hit Nicola Docherty and landed between the pair. While they hesitated, Bonmati steamed in and rattled a shot past Alexander.

Martinez Losa made a triple change at the break - Harrison, Caroline Weir and Lisa Robertson made way for Christie Murray, Christy Grimshaw and Lucy Graham - but his team buckled as the deficit doubled in a dizzying six-minute spell.

Again, unforced errors were ruthlessly punished, with Howard's failure to clear her lines allowing Sarriegi to stab the ball over the line.

Bonmati added her second, beating Alexander at the third attempt, before Putellas' smart finish from a cut-back.

Alexander made another miraculous stop, sticking out a leg to foil Ona Batlle as the chances kept mounting.

Spain added two more goals in the final 10 minutes as Hermoso curled in at the far corner and Gonzalez sealed the rout after the hosts struck the bar.

Player of the match - Aitana Bonmati

What did we learn?

This was always going to be a damage limitation job for Scotland against one of the most fearsome teams in the world - and one who are in breathtaking form.

But the visitors made life even more difficult for themselves with some sloppy mistakes that gifted the hosts at least three goals.

Still, second place - the play-off spot that goes with it - remains the aim and Hungary's shock win over Ukraine is a welcome result for Scotland's hopes.

What they said

Scotland manager Pedro Martinez Losa: "Spain are the best football team in the world. We are planning to progress and we are still in the race for qualification to the World Cup, so nothing changes.

"When other teams lose as much as they do against this team, we know it's nothing to do with the tactics and it's down to the level of the opponent."

What's next?

Scotland resume in April with a double-header away to Ukraine and home to Spain before ending the qualification campaign in the Faroe Islands in September.