ELCHE: Raul Gonzalez ended a seven-month goal drought to help Spain to a 2-0 win over Egypt in a World Cup warm-up on Saturday.
Raul, who last netted on Oct. 26 in a Real Madrid game, struck from close range in the 14th minute at Martinez Valero Stadium after Egypt goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari fumbled a low shot by Antonio Lopez.
The goal by Raul, Spain s all-time leading scorer, who returned to the starting lineup after a two-game absence, was his 43rd in 94 internationals.
Substitute Jose Antonio Reyes added the second goal in a victory which extended Spain s undefeated run to 21 matches, 13 wins and eight draws, since Coach Luis Aragones took charge after the team flopped in the European Championship two years ago.
We re improving but I m not happy. There are still things we need to polish. There were moments in the first half when Egypt deserved a goal. In the second half it was our mistakes which gave Egypt their chances, Aragones said.
Overall, Spain deserved to win but a draw wouldn t have been unfair, he added. Sometimes we try to play too much.
Spain organized its first international against Egypt because its second match in the tournament on June 19 is against another North African team, Tunisia. Ukraine and Saudi Arabia are also in Group H.
Spain completes preparations against Croatia in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday.
The African champion, which hasn t qualified for the World Cup, was pressed back straight from kick off although Mohamed Shawki missed a chance to equalize Raul s goal in the 17th minute when he headed well over the bar.
Spain lost control towards halftime and allowed Egypt two more chances, Hosni Abd Rabou angled a low shot just past Iker Casillas left post in the 36th and Mohamed Aboutrika also firing wide a minute later.
Spurred into action, the home team almost doubled its lead on the stroke of half time when David Villa shaved the post with a close-range shot from a low pass by striking partner Fernando Torres.
Villa was one of three Spanish players replaced at halftime but Egypt was then prevented from equalizing by Carles Puyol s saving tackle with Ahmed Hassan ready to pounce.
Villa s replacement, Reyes, doubled Spain s lead in the 57th minute with his goal from a curling free kick from outside the area which Al Hadari couldn t reach.
Raul received rousing applause from the crowd when he was substituted by Luis Garcia in the 63rd minute and the Liverpool forward almost grabbed his team s third goal with a shot which Al Hadari pushed over the bar soon afterward. Casillas then made two diving saves from a header and a shot by substitute Abdel-Halim Ali as the visitors gained steam in the final stages.
Lineups:Spain: Iker Casillas: Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Pablo Ibanez (Juanito Gutierrez, 86), Antonio Lopez, David Albelda (Xabi Alonso, 46) Cesc Fabregas (Andres Iniesta, 70), Marcos Senna (Xavi Hernandez, 46), Raul Gonzalez (Luis Garcia, 63) Fernando Torres, David Villa (Jose Antonio Reyes, 46).
Egypt: Essam Al Hadari: Mohamed Abdelwahab (Ahmed Abou Mosalem, 76) Mohamed Barakat (Ahmed Fathi, 65), Mohamed Shawki, Wael Gomaa, Emad Al Nahhas, Ahmed Hassan, Hosni Abd Rabou, Abdelzaher El Saqqa (Abdelhalim Ali, 71), Mohamed Aboutrika (Mostafa Gaafar, 85), Emad Moteab (Gamal Hamza, 85).
