2 years ago
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Spain are playing in only their third World Cup having gone out in the group stage in 2015 and losing in the last 16 in 2019Spain cruised to victory in their Women's World Cup opener as they dominated Costa Rica in Wellington.
Valeria del Campo scored an own goal to put Spain ahead, before Aitana Bonmati curled in a second two minutes later.
Esther Gonzalez added a third after a header against the crossbar by Jennifer Hermoso, who then had a penalty saved by Daniela Solera.
Olga Carmona hit the bar and Solera made a number of fine saves to restrict Spain to three goals.
The Spanish team's dominance was shown in the match stats, as they had 46 attempts at goal, including 12 on target, with Costa Rica, ranked 36th in the world, only having one shot, which went wide.
Spain also had 80% possession and 22 corners compared with just one from their opponents.
For Spain, looking to advance past the last-16 phase for the first time, it was the perfect start to their Group C campaign after a disrupted build-up to the tournament.
In September, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) claimed 15 members of its national team, unhappy with training methods and match preparation, said they would resign if manager Jorge Vilda did not step down.
The federation backed Vilda and he only then named three of those 15 players - Barcelona's Mariona Caldentey, Bonmati and Ona Batlle - in the World Cup squad.
Costa Rica had never won a match at a Women's World Cup, but had drawn 1-1 in their opener against Spain in 2015 - the only other tournament they had qualified for.
But there never looked like being a repeat as Spain dominated.
Bonmati, Gonzalez, Ivana Andres and Salma Paralluelo all missed chances before Del Campo converted Gonzalez's cross from the left.
Spain scored three times in a seven-minute spell and had a great opportunity for a fourth but Hermoso's poor penalty was pushed away by Solera.
Only an inspired performance from Solera kept the scoreline respectable as she made excellent saves to deny Paralluelo, Carmona and Ivana Andres.
Midfielder Alexia Putellas, who won the Ballon d'Or for being the best player in the world in 2021 and 2022, was among the Spain substitutes and played the last 13 minutes as she recovers from injury.
She sustained a serious knee injury just before last year's Women's European Championship and has not played a full match since.
Spain will be looking for another big win in their next match on 26 July as they face Zambia, at 77th the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, with Costa Rica facing 2011 winners and 2015 runners-up Japan.
Line-ups
Spain
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Rodríguez Rivero
- 2BatlleSubstituted forHernándezat 88'minutes
- 4Paredes
- 5Andrés
- 19Carmona
- 6Bonmatí
- 3AbelleiraSubstituted forZornozaat 77'minutes
- 22del CastilloSubstituted forCaldentey Oliverat 63'minutes
- 10Hermoso
- 18ParallueloSubstituted forPutellasat 77'minutes
- 9GonzálezSubstituted forRedondoat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Guerrero
- 8Caldentey Oliver
- 11Putellas
- 12Hernández
- 13Salón
- 14Codina
- 15Navarro
- 16Pérez
- 17Redondo
- 20Gálvez
- 21Zornoza
- 23Coll Lluch
Costa Rica
Formation 3-4-3
- 23Solera
- 20Villalobos
- 4Benavides
- 5del Campo
- 3Coto
- 16Alvarado
- 10VillalobosSubstituted forPinellat 73'minutes
- 12ElizondoSubstituted forGranadosat 58'minutes
- 7Herrera
- 9SalasSubstituted forScottat 73'minutes
- 14Chinchilla
Substitutes
- 1Pérez
- 2Guillén
- 6Sánchez
- 8Campos
- 11Rodríguez
- 13Valenciano
- 15Granados
- 17Varela
- 18Tapia
- 19Pinell
- 21Scott
- 22Estrada
Referee:Casey Reibelt
Attendance:22,966
Live Text
Match ends, Spain 3, Costa Rica Women 0.
Second Half ends, Spain 3, Costa Rica Women 0.
Offside, Spain. Oihane Hernández tries a through ball, but Alba Redondo is caught offside.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Valeria del Campo (Costa Rica Women).
Attempt blocked. Olga Carmona (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Olga Carmona (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mélissa Herrera (Costa Rica Women).
Attempt saved. Jenni Hermoso (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Olga Carmona with a cross.
Irene Paredes (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Priscila Chinchilla (Costa Rica Women).
Attempt blocked. Aitana Bonmatí (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alba Redondo.
Offside, Spain. Ivana Andrés tries a through ball, but Alba Redondo is caught offside.
Substitution, Spain. Oihane Hernández replaces Ona Batlle.
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Mariana Benavides.
Offside, Spain. Alexia Putellas tries a through ball, but Jenni Hermoso is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Mariona Caldentey (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alexia Putellas.
Attempt saved. Alexia Putellas (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt blocked. Aitana Bonmatí (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Foul by Irene Paredes (Spain).
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