Spain advanced to the round of 16 with a 3-0 victory over Austria at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, ending a 16-year wait for a World Cup knockout win. Mikel Oyarzabal’s first-half strike and a second-half header from Pedro Porro, followed by Oyarzabal’s late second, ensured the 2010 champions progressed without conceding a goal for the fourth consecutive match.

Luis de la Fuente’s team controlled possession from the outset, pinning Austria deep. Marc Cucurella had a goal disallowed in the 29th minute after referee Glenn Nyberg ruled that Pau Cubarsí had fouled goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, but the reprieve was brief. Seven minutes later, Cucurella cut the ball back from the left for Oyarzabal to sweep a low finish into the net. Spain continued to press, with Álex Baena striking the crossbar from a free-kick and Schlager denying Lamine Yamal before the interval.

Austria, who had reached the knockout stage for the first time since 1954 thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Algeria, offered little in response. Their best chance fell to substitute Sasa Kalajdzic, whose header drifted wide early in the second half. Spain doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Baena’s cross from the left found Porro unmarked to head home. Oyarzabal completed the scoring in the 89th minute, latching onto a precise pass from Cucurella to beat Schlager with a first-time shot.

The result extends Spain’s unbeaten run to 35 matches and means they have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, a record shared only with Mexico. Spanish analysts noted that the team has yet to reach its attacking peak, but the defensive solidity has drawn praise. Ralf Rangnick, the Austrian coach, had acknowledged before the match that his side faced “one of the strongest teams in the world,” and the difference in quality was apparent throughout. The victory was watched by former Spanish internationals David Villa and Carles Puyol, members of the 2010 World Cup-winning side, who were in attendance at the SoFi Stadium.

Spain will now face the winner of Thursday’s later match between Portugal and Croatia in Dallas on 6 July. For Austria, the defeat ends a campaign that had already exceeded expectations by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time in over seven decades.