Canada trips Nigeria, Spain and Switzerland win in opener

Canada, the reigning Olympic champions, drew 0-0 with Nigeria on Friday, while Spain and Switzerland confirmed their favoritism against Costa Rica and the Philippines respectively in their opening games at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Striker Christine Sinclair could have given the Canadians the expected victory, but lost a penalty in the 50th minute in the game in Melbourne (Australia) in which Christy Ucheibe, from Benfica, was totally in Nigeria’s midfield, which ended up reduced to 10 players, due to the exclusion of Deborah Abiodun, at 90+8.

Striker Cloé Lacasse, who moved from Benfica to Arsenal this summer, was a substitute used in Canada, runners-up in Group B, tied with the African team, both two points behind leader and co-host Australia, who defeated on Thursday the Republic of Ireland 1-0, still ‘blank’.

Spain, even with striker Alexia Putellas, voted the best player in the world in 2022, starting on the bench, defeated Costa Rica 3-0, thanks to an own goal from Valeria del Campo in the 21st minute and accurate shots from Aitana Bonmati, 23 years, and Esther González, 27 years.

The Spanish team missed another penalty from Jenifer Hermoso in the 34th minute in the match played in Wellington, but naturally climbed into the lead of Group C, which also includes Japan and Zambia, who face each other on Saturday. .

In Group A, Switzerland triumphed 2-0 against the Philippines, but only broke the opponents’ resistance in the 45th minute and via a penalty converted by Ramona Bachmann, with Seraina Piubel increasing the Swiss’ lead, in the 64th minute.

The Swiss took the lead in the group between July 20 and August 20, on par with New Zealand, the other country hosting the tournament, while Norway, beaten 1-0 by the New Zealanders on Friday, and the Philippines still not scored.

Portugal, one of the eight debuting teams, will face the Netherlands, the number two in the world, in Dunedin on Sunday in the opening round of group E, which also includes the United States, winner of the last two World Cups, and Vietnam.