Spain Dominates Costa Rica 3-0 in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup continued on Friday with an exciting matchup between Spain and Costa Rica in Group C. The game took place at Wellington Regional Stadium in New Zealand and ended with a statement win for Spain, who dominated the game with a final score of 3-0.
Despite their strong offensive lineup, Spain surprised everyone by benching superstar midfielder Alexia Putellas, who is a back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner and considered one of the biggest X-factors in the World Cup. However, Spain still had plenty of talent on the field, including star forward Jennifer Hermoso, who is a strong contender for the Golden Boot and FC Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer.
From the start, Spain asserted their dominance, controlling 80% of the possession and taking a total of 46 shots, 12 of which were on target. In contrast, Costa Rica struggled to find a rhythm and only managed one shot throughout the entire match.
Costa Rica featured standout midfielders Raquel Rodriguez and Katherine Alvarado, but their efforts were not enough against Spain’s strong performance. Goalkeeper Daniela Solera made crucial saves in the second half to keep Costa Rica’s hopes alive, but Spain’s offensive pressure was relentless.
The first goal came in the 21st minute when a cross from Spain bounced off a Costa Rican defender and resulted in an own goal. Just a few minutes later, Spain extended their lead to 2-0 with a left-footed blast from Aitana Bonmati. In the 27th minute, Esther Gonzalez made it 3-0 for Spain, collecting a loose ball and confidently finding the back of the net.
Despite their best efforts, Costa Rica was unable to score throughout the match and couldn’t break through Spain’s strong defense. Their record scorer, Raquel Rodriguez, was unable to make a significant impact, and Costa Rica struggled to generate any meaningful chances.
In the 77th minute, Alexia Putellas finally entered the game for Spain, replacing Paralluelo. While she was unable to make an immediate impact on the scoreline, her presence added another dimension to Spain’s already formidable attack.
Overall, Spain’s dominant performance secured them the win and put them in a strong position in Group C. With their strong offensive weapons and a commanding victory over Costa Rica, they have solidified their status as one of the teams to watch in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Fans can continue to follow the tournament’s live coverage and check out the full Women’s World Cup schedule to watch each match live.