Spain broke Costa Rica’s resistance with three goals in four minutes and set the stage for a resounding 3-0 victory on Friday. While reigning Olympic champions Canada settled for a 0-0 draw with Nigeria in the two teams’ presentation at the Women’s World Cup.
Spain have issued a warning to World Cup rivals New Zealand and Australia.
The Spaniards kicked off their World Cup campaign with a thrilling performance that enlivened a cold winter night in Wellington. Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexis Putellas started as a substitute and entered the pitch in the 77th minute to a standing ovation after his long battle with injuries.
Although they attacked relentlessly, Spain took 22 minutes to open the scoring with an own goal. Aitana Bonmati cut Valeria del Campo from the left who, trying to clear the ball, slid it into her goal.
Bonmati responded by scoring a minute later with a powerful low shot from the edge of the box. Two minutes later, Esther Gonzalez completed the Spaniards’ score with the third goal. The penalty kick taken by Jennifer Hermoso at minute 32, which was saved by Daniela Solera, does not matter.
In the Canada-Nigeria clash, Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was key to preserving the tie with several saves, including one from a penalty shot by Christine Sinclair.
It was a key miss for the Canadian veteran, who is the all-time leader in goals for either the men’s or women’s national teams, tallying 190. Sinclair shot 11 paces in 50 minutes and Nnadozie dived to the left for the ‘stop.
In another on Matchday 2 of the World Cup, Ramona Bachmann scored from the penalty spot just before half-time as Switzerland cruised to a 2-0 win over the Philippines in the Cup opener on Friday of the world for both teams in New Zealand and Australia. .
Seraina Piubel secured the second-half victory by finishing off a rebound after Coumba Sow’s missed shot bounced off Filipino keeper Olivia McDaniel.
The Group A clash was the first to be played at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium, the tournament’s only indoor stadium.
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