Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain proved too strong for Austria in a 3-0 win at the Sofi Stadium to book their place in the last 16 of the World Cup.
After defender Marc Cucurella had a goal ruled out for a foul on a corner, the European champions took the lead in the 36th minute through Oyarzabal.
Spain, seeking their first World Cup knockout win since lifting the trophy in 2010, eventually made their dominance count again when Tottenham defender Pedro Porro headed in just after the hour.
Oyarzabal scored his second goal a minute before the end of normal time as Luis de la Fuente’s side set up a meeting with either Portugal or Croatia for a place in the quarter-finals.
Spain got off to a brilliant start in Inglewood, Los Angeles, when Barcelona striker Lamin Yamal fired an early shot from the edge of the penalty area straight at Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Austria – who secured their place in the last 16 by finishing second in Group J behind Argentina with a late goal to snatch a 3-3 draw with Algeria – then created their first opportunity when Marcel Sabitzer’s cross picked out Michael Gregoritsch at the far post, but the Augsburg frontman failed to make enough contact with his header.
Spain thought they had taken the lead on the half hour when Cucurella fired home from a corner, but the goal was somewhat controversially disallowed for a foul on Schlager when the corner went through the packed six-yard box.
Austria goalkeeper Schlager then showed good reaction, going down to save Oyarzabal’s corner kick after another brilliant strike from Yamal.
Spain finally felt their pressure in the 36th minute when Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal met Cucurella’s low cross for his 11th goal in his last 10 international appearances.
In first-half stoppage time, Alex Baena saw his curling 25-yard free kick hit the crossbar and Yamal’s follow-up shot from the rebound was then saved at point-blank range by Schlager.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick made a double change in midfield in the second half, bringing on Florian Grillitsch and Carney Chukwuemeka, a former England international with Aston Villa and Chelsea.
However, it was Spain who looked to pick up where they left off, with Oyarzabal heading in from a corner before Rodri’s low shot was deflected wide of the goal.
After Austrian substitute Sasa Kalajdzic, who had just come on, headed in, Spain doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Porro arrived in the box and finished with a sweeping strike as he nodded in Baena’s cross to score his first international goal.
Austria looked to rally when Stefan Posch fired wide, but Oyarzabal made sure there was no late drama when he headed home Cucurella’s low cross in the 89th minute.