Dream night for Garcia puts Spain on verge of qualification

Liverpool winger Luis Garcia became the toast of Spain after leading his side to a crushing 5-1 victory over Slovakia with a classy hat-trick during their World Cup play-off at the Calderon on Saturday.

The midfielder responded brilliantly to coach Luis Aragones's decision to include him in the starting line-up for the first time and gave Spain the incisiveness in attack that they had been lacking during a disappointing qualification campaign.

"Without a doubt it was the sort of night that every footballer dreams about," Garcia told reporters.

"As well as being a very important game in which a lot was at stake it was my first start for the national team and it worked out perfectly."

Garcia opened the scoring and notched up his first international goal when he flicked a header into the net after a corner. He added a second before 20 minutes were up when he volleyed home after controlling a wonderful pass from Xavi with his chest.

The former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid player was briefly transformed from hero to villain when he gifted Slovakia striker Szilard Nemeth a goal with a sloppy back pass at the start of the second half.

He atoned for his error when he helped to press Slovakia defender Roman Kratochvil into conceding a penalty for handball as he tried to prevent the winger latching on to a through ball into the area.

Fernando Torres converted from the spot and Garcia helped himself to his third nine minutes later when he snapped home at the near post after a neat cut-back from Vicente. The 27-year-old was given a standing ovation by the 55,000 fans at the Calderon when he was replaced by Fernando Morientes 15 minutes from time.

Morientes completed a memorable night for Spain's Liverpool contingent when he wrapped up a comfortable win with a trademark header.

It was the former Real Madrid striker's 26th goal in Spanish colours and moved him up into third place, level with Emilio Butragueno, in the country's all-time list of goalscorers.

Aragones said he was delighted that his decision to play Garcia in place of the dropped Joaquin on the right had paid off so handsomely.

Spanish media hailed the national side's performance as the best since Aragones took charge after the team's disappointing first-round exit at Euro 2004.

"We are going to Germany, but will stop over at Bratislava on the way for a spot of tourism," said Juan Jose Diaz, chief correspondent for best-selling sports daily Marca.