JOHANNESBURG (AP):

Fernando Torres helped Spain pick up where it left off at a major football tournament and South Africa did little to show it would be a contender at this year's Confederations Cup.

The Spain striker scored three goals in the first 17 minutes to help the European champions rout New Zealand 5-0 on the opening day of the eight-team tournament.

Hosts South Africa, however, were unlucky and had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Iraq in the opening match at Ellis Park.

Completed with a header

Torres, who scored the lone goal in Spain's 1-0 win over Germany in last year's European Championship final, put his team ahead in just the sixth minute in Rustenburg, curling a shot past New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss. He made it 2-0 in the 14th, side-footing a pass from David Villa into the net and completed the hat-trick with a header from Joan Capdevila's cross.

"The truth is that it was a great boost for the team to come out and start like that," Torres said.

Cesc Fabregas and Villa also scored for Spain, which stretched its unbeaten streak to 33 games, two shy of Brazil's record.

The Spanish team leads Group A with three points and next face Iraq.

The atmosphere at the Royal Bafokeng stadium was dulled by the thousands of empty seats. But in Johannesburg, the vuvuzela trumpets rang out loud as the local fans supported their team in earnest.

The hosts, however, failed to convert an easy opportunity in the 84th minute when a header from Kagisho Dikgacoi hit the back of the leg of South Africa forward Bernard Parker on the goal line and bounced out.

"I wanted to drop dead," Parker said.

Although Mohammed Kassid may have been beaten on that play, the Iraq goalkeeper made some other outstanding saves to preserve the draw, including a one-on-one stop from forward Katlego Mashego late in the match.

"This tie for us is positive," Iraq coach Bora Milutinovic said. "OK, we had a chance there, but I think this game was for a tie."