Olympic champions Canada and world champions Spain both had to recover from a goal down before winning their opening Olympic women’s football duels.
Canada defeated New Zealand 2-1 in Saint-Etienne in a Group A tie overshadowed by the spy drone scandal. It might have been considered a routine win had it not been for the storm which saw coach Bev Priestman sit out the game with two of her staff sent home.
Assistant Andy Spence stepped up as coach while Priestman, who had recused herself after New Zealand’s complaints to world federation FIFA and to the International Olympic Committee, watched on TV from the team hotel. FIFA has already launched disciplinary proceedings.
A French court has announced that Joseph Lombardi, one of the staff members sent home, had been handed an eight-month suspended jail term.
Mackenzie Barry shocked the Canadians by opening the scoring in the 13th minute and Canada levelled only in first half stoppage time through Cloe Lacasse. Evelyne Viens converted a long pass from Jessie Fleming for the 79th-minute winner.
The other Group A game saw hosts France defeat Colombia 3-2. The hosts lost control after leading 3-0 at halftime. The momentum of Colombia’s two-goal comeback was halted after a second-half red card for striker Mayra Ramirez.
Spain had Aitana Bonmati, FIFA’s best woman player for 2023, to thank for their comeback win over Japan in Group C.
Japan opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a free kick but Bonmati equalised nine minutes later, converting a through ball from Athenea del Castillo. Spain went on to dominate the second half and win with a 74th-minute goal from Mariona Caldentey on a Bonmati assist.
Bonmati said later: “We had a nervy start but we did well in our first match at the Olympics. It’s our first time here. Now we just have to keep going. The pressure is good. We are the world champions and we want to win the Olympics. That’s what we are here for. We want to win everything.”
Brazil beat Nigeria 1-0 in the other Group C game.
Group B action saw four-times gold medallists United States, in their first competitive match under new coach Emma Hayes, beat Zambia 3-0 while Germany defeated Australia 3-0.
Credit: AIPS Media
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