---
title: "Virals: Pablo Fornals opens Spain goal account vs Kosovo"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/09/09/virals-pablo-fornals-opens-spain-goal-account-vs-kosovo/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-09-09T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-09-09T07:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: Pablo Fornals opens Spain goal account vs Kosovo

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/09/08/stuart-pearce-says-jesse-lingard-is-too-good-to-play-bit-part-role/) attacking midfielder [Pablo Fornals](https://readwestham.com/2021/09/08/virals-pablo-fornals-pinpoints-career-turning-point-at-west-ham/) has continued a fine 2021 with his first goal for Spain at the senior international level.

The 25 year old was [handed a first start](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pablo-fornals/nationalmannschaft/spieler/357885/verein_id/3375) on the left wing against Kosovo in a World Cup qualifier.

Despite making his [debut](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3105075) in November 2018, Fornals has found further opportunities hard to come by until recently.

Not to be denied a moment to shine, the Iron opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark in a [2-0](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3495397) victory.

> Twitter: Four touches, a sweet turn and Pablo Fornals smashes Spain ahead ![🇪🇸](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/svg/1f1ea-1f1f8.svg)
>
> His first international start. His first inter… https://t.co/ZTJtBLiSJB (@OptusSport)

The former Villarreal ace was taken off after an hour as Manchester City forward Ferran Torres doubled the lead to leave Luis Enrique’s side [clear at the top](https://www.skysports.com/football/competitions/world-cup-qualifiers/table) of Group B.

Elsewhere, Hammers midfielder Declan Rice played a full part as [England drew 1-1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58492134) with a resilient Poland side in Warsaw.

Rice earned an impressive [7.10 Sofascore rating](https://www.sofascore.com/player/declan-rice/856714) for another solid display for Gareth Southgate’s side.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Far from being pleased to see Irons come through unscathed, West Ham have a [host of their stars](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/september/08-september/international-round-west-ham-uniteds-vlasic-target-zouma) returning full of confidence.

None more so than Fornals, who will be on top of the world after [coming of age](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/september/08-september/international-round-pablo-fornals-scores-spain-win) on the biggest international stage.

Already unbeaten at the start of the season and having added Kurt Zouma, Alex Kral and Nikola Vlasic to the ranks, [Southampton on Saturday](https://www.whufc.com/fixtures/first-team/fixtures-and-results) can’t come quickly enough.