Reigning Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati scored one goal and helped create another as World Cup holder Spain beat Japan, 2-1, in their first game of the women’s Olympic football tournament on Thursday, while record four-time gold medalist the United States beat Zambia 3-0.
Spain is making their Olympic women’s football debut at the Paris Games but is the leading contender to win gold after their World Cup triumph in Australia and New Zealand last year.
They fell behind against Japan in Group C in the western French city of Nantes to Aoba Fujino’s superb early free-kick, but Bonmati soon equalized as she rounded the goalkeeper to score midway through the first half.
Spain then grabbed the winner in the 74th minute when Mariona Caldentey exchanged passes with Bonmati before firing in.
With 12 teams split into three groups of four, there is a margin for error as the two best third-placed sides will advance to the quarter-finals.
That will provide some comfort for Japan, silver medalists at London 2012.
A strong Spain starting XI featured seven players who were in the line-up for last year’s World Cup final win over England in Sydney, plus Alexia Putellas, the two-time former Ballon d’Or winner.
In the same section, two-time silver medalists Brazil beat Nigeria 1-0 in Bordeaux.
Former world player of the year Marta, in her sixth Olympics at the age of 38, had an effort disallowed for offside before setting up Gabi Nunes for the only goal late in the first half.
Swanson double
The USA has come to the Games with a young squad but with high hopes of success under new coach Emma Hayes.
They were comfortable winners against Zambia in Nice but should have triumphed by a greater margin after netting three times in the first half against opponents who had a player sent off before the break.
Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson both hit the woodwork before Rodman—daughter of former NBA superstar Dennis Rodman—scored on 17 minutes with a lovely turn and finish in the box.
Swanson made it 2-0 on 24 minutes when she controlled Lindsey Horan’s pass and finished, and she netted again just a minute later, this time rounding the goalkeeper to slot in.
Zambia’s Pauline Zulu was left in tears as she was sent off following a VAR review shortly before the break for a foul on Sophia Smith. However, the USA could not add any more goals with the extra player. AFP
Also in Group B, 2016 gold medallists Germany outclassed Australia, winning 3-0 in Marseille with Marina Hegering and Lea Schueller both scoring headers before Jule Brand wrapped up the victory.
The USA and Germany meet each other in Marseille on Sunday.
