2023-08-05 09:24:55
The Spaniards qualified for the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history after their very clear victory against Switzerland (5-1) on Saturday in Auckland. They will face, on Friday, the winner of the match between the Netherlands and South Africa.
Published on: 05/08/2023 – 09:24
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Spain easily beat Switzerland (5-1) on Saturday August 5 in Auckland, thanks to a double from midfielder Aitana Bonmati, and qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, reassuring themselves after the stinging defeat against Japan.
Next Friday in the quarterfinals, Spain, who had never passed the stage of the round of 16 at a World Cup, will meet the winner of the round of 16 between the Netherlands and South Africa, who s face off in Sydney on Sunday.
After the setback against Japan (4-0) on the last day of Group C, it was the turn of “Roja” to inflict a festival of goals on the Helvetians, who had not conceded any until then .
Reassuring for the Spaniards, especially since the Golden Ball Alexia Putellas remained on the bench for a good part of the match. The FC Barcelona player, who entered in the 77th minute, still does not seem to be 100% recovered from her serious knee injury.
Substitute for the first match against Costa Rica, she was established for the second against Zambia where she played half time and against Japan.
The festival began at the start of the match with the opener of midfielder Aitana Bonmati, very legged on Saturday, with a precise strike from the left (1-0, 5th). The midfielder even scored twice, her third goal in the world, after a good sequence and eliminating three players (3-1, 36th).
Before that, Switzerland had equalized (1-1, 11th) because of a goal gag and against his camp of the central defender Laida Codina, who caught up at the end of the first half (4-1, 45th ). But Spain had quickly regained the advantage thanks to a header at the far post from Alba Redondo (2-1, 17th).
During the less prolific second half, Jennifer Hermoso finished the job with a nice curled shot (70th).
Eliminated in the first round in Canada in 2015, the Spaniards lost in the round of 16 in France four years later against the future American world champions. This year in Oceania, they are already doing better with this historic qualification in the quarter-finals.
With AFP
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