Pedro took his goal tally in his last five internationals to seven when an under-strength Spain side thumped Panama 5-1 in a one-sided friendly on Wednesday to end the year unbeaten in 16 matches.
The world and European champions eased into a 3-0 half-time lead in sultry Panama City thanks to Pedro’s double and a goal from record scorer and stand-in captain David Villa, his 53rd on his 85th appearance for his country.
Playing their final match of 2012 and without rested midfield stalwarts Xavi and Xabi Alonso, Vicente del Bosque’s side missed a host of chances before substitute Sergio Ramos curled in a superb free kick in the 82nd minute.
Jesus Navas fed Markel Susaeta to score on his debut from close range two minutes later and the boisterous home fans were rewarded when Gabriel Gomez cheekily beat Iker Casillas with a chipped penalty three minutes from time. “The balance between order and talent gave us the edge,” Del Bosque told a news conference. “We took the game seriously, with a certain level of commitment, and our domination of the ball did not allow them many chances.
“We could have scored more goals in the second half but we made it easy for ourselves.”
The match at the Rommel Fernandez stadium between the world’s number one nation and 46th-ranked Panama seemed at times like a training match for the laid-back Spanish and Del Bosque was able to try out a couple of players who are on the fringes of the squad. He started with Benat Etxebarria in a creative central role but the Real Betis midfielder was disappointingly wayward with his passing, while Athletic Bilbao midfielder Susaeta fluffed a close-range volley that he should have put away with ease.
Pedro, who scored a hat-trick against Belarus in a World Cup qualifier last month, exchanged passes with his Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta to carve open the home defence for his opening goal in the 16th minute.
