Spain secured a comfortable 7-1 victory to lock-up second spot in Group C and end Paraguay’s ambitions in the tournament.

The two sides went into the contest effectively battling for second spot, though Spain knew a draw would suffice provided New Zealand failed to defeat group leaders Japan.

Spain were immediately out of blocks in impressive fashion taking a dominant 3-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

Beatriz Beltran opened the scoring with a neat finish in the fourth minute after prospering from Nahikari Garcia’s intelligent lay-off.

The lead was soon doubled after an excellent long-range free-kick from the right corner of the box by Andrea Falcon sailed high into the net for one of the more spectacular strikes of the tournament. Falcon then bagged her second with the Paraguay defence cut to shreds down the middle.

However, Paraguay soon pulled a goal back from the most unlikely source as Fanny Godoy – the smallest player on the pitch – directed a glancing header from a long free-kick into the goal.

The second half continued in a similar vein to the first with the Europeans dominating both possession and goalscoring opportunities.

Midfielder Garcia further extended the margin midway through the second half, while Pilar Garrote nabbed a quickfire brace within three minutes.

Then it was the turn of Garcia to score her second at the expense of a tired Paraguay defence to underscore a dominant display from La Roja.