FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) — World Cup winners Spain defeated Nigeria 3-0 with two goals from Jordi Alba and another from Fernando Torres yesterday to set up a semi-final showdown with Italy in the Confederations Cup.

In the other game, Brazilian fans again screamed and cheered for Tahiti every step of the way, even as Uruguay pumped in goal after goal to beat the South Pacific islanders 8-0 to also reach the Confederations Cup semi-finals.

Although the final score was emphatic, it could have been much closer if Nigeria had accepted some of their many clear chances in the first half. At times Spain looked vulnerable to the African champions’ fast breaks.

Thursday’s rematch in Fortaleza will be a chance for Italy to get even for a humiliating 4-0 loss to Spain in last year’s European championship final.

“For us, Italy is a challenge in front of us as we try to get to the final,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. “I imagine for Italy it’s very important because the loss is fresh in their minds from the European final, and I am sure they are thinking of revenge.”

Alba, a left-sided defender, scored in the third minute to set the wide-open tone for the match. The goal capped off a series of one-touch passes with Pedro backheeling a clever ball to Andres Iniesta, who found Alba. His low shot beat keeper Vincent Enyeama.

Torres scored with a header in the 62nd minute, and Alba picked up his second in the 88th as Nigeria sought to score.

Alba was named man of the match. He said it was a first for him.

With this win, Spain extended its unbeaten string to 25 matches. But it was on the defensive more than usual against the young Nigerian side — particularly in the first half.

Nigeria played fast-flowing football in the first half creating about as much possession, just as many chances and regularly beat the World Cup winners to loose balls.

“Nigeria was tough for us,” Alba said. “Not just the first half, but the whole game. I have to praise them for playing like that against a team like we have.”

Spain had played Nigeria only once before, losing 3-2 in the 1998 World Cup.

Only poor finishing let Nigeria down, with Joseph Akpala and Sunday Mba squandering chances before the break.

The Uruguayans, who started without strikers Diego Forlan, Edinson Cavani and Suarez, will play Brazil in the semi-finals Wednesday in Belo Horizonte.

“Fortunately for us, what had to happen, happened,” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said.

Tahiti, a team of mostly amateurs that drew boisterous support from the Brazilian fans for the third straight game, was outscored 24-1 at the tournament. But when the match ended, the Tahitian substitutes walked onto the field carrying Brazilian flags, drawing another massive round of cheers.

Abel Hernandez scored a first-half hat-trick and added a penalty kick in the second half. Luis Suarez scored two goals and Diego Perez and Nicolas Lodeiro had the others.