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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dom Smith

Spain cruise past Costa Rica to open Women’s World Cup campaign

Spain began their 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign in fine fashion as they cruised past Costa Rica 3-0 in Wellington.

In control throughout, it took them 21 minutes before they broke the deadlock through an own-goal by the unfortunate Valeria del Campo.

An excellent goal from Aitana Bonmati and a further strike by Esther Gonzalez had them 3-0 up just six minutes later, before Spain’s all-time top scorer Jennifer Hermoso missed a penalty.

It could and should have been more, but goalkeeper Daniela Solera made a string of top saves.

Elsewhere on Friday, Switzerland leapt above co-hosts New Zealand to the top of Group A after beating the Philippines 2-0.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Ramona Bachmann put the Swiss ahead from the spot just before half-time following a VAR check, before they doubled their lead in the 64th minute through Seraina Piubel.

And Nigeria drew 0-0 with Olympic champions Canada in Melbourne.

Christine Sinclair, 40, could not add to her world-record 190 international goals as she missed a penalty. Nigeria’s Deborah Abiodun was later sent off.

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