Spain made a dream start to their 2006 FIFA World Cup`99 campaign with a 4-0 victory over Group H rivals Ukraine in Leipzig on Wednesday.

Having waited as long as any team to get their campaign under way, Spain raced out of the starting blocks and were two goals in front inside 17 minutes as Xabi Alonso headed a 13th-minute opener before David Villa doubled the advantage.

If Ukraine thought things could not get any worse they were wrong as they lost Vladyslav Vashchuk to a red card just three minutes into the second half after conceding a penalty for a challenge on Fernando Torres. Villa tucked away the spot-kick and Torres compleed the scoring with a spectacular half-volley with nine minutes remaining.