Spanish striker Fernando Torres on Sunday scored a hat-trick to hand Spain a 5-0 triumph over New Zealand in group match of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

The Kiwis did not organize effective launch but had to stay in their own half in a sharp contrast to the performance of the Spain who raced into a 3-0 lead through a six-minute treble by Torres in less than 20 minutes in the stadium located in the central South African city of Rustenburg.

Forward Torres kicked the ball into the top right corner after taking a pass from David Villa.

Eight minutes later, Albert Riera and Villa hitthe byline and handed out an easy goal for Torres. A header in the 17th minute finished the hat-trick for the Liverpool striker.

Cesc Fabregas and David Villa finished the rout against the Oceania champions with two more goals.

The group match came after Iraq held South Africa 0-0 in the curtain-raiser of the Conferations Cup.

Spain are favorites in the four teams of Group A, leaving the hosts South Africa, Iraq and New Zealand to compete for the other slot in the semifinals.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2009)