Merciless Spain trounce Switzerland 5-1, zoom into quarter-final

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

Spain was so dominant against Switzerland in the first game of the Round of 16 played early Saturday morning in Nigeria at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand as La Roja ran away 5-1 winners to be the first team to qualify for the quarter-final stage.

Switzerland entered the match as the Group A winner, allowing no goals in the group stage but Spain, the runner-up in Group C, wasn’t worried about that at all, scoring four goals against Switzerland in the first half, including  an own goal, to build a 4-1 lead.

Sportsreve reports that it was the first time a team scored four goals in the first half of a Women’s World Cup knockout stage game since 2015, when USA scored four against Japan in first half of the final.

Spain entered the match with massive changes to its starting lineup, including Alexia Putellas and Mariona Caldentey moving to the bench. The squad will also start Catalina Coll in goal, who is making her debut in these games in place of Maria Sanchez.

But it did not take long before Spanish orchestra started with veteran Aitana Bonmatí scoring early in the 15′ after a piece of footwork inside the box.

After Switzerland’s goalie made a wonderful stop on a shot attempt, La Roja quickly rallied to the ball to capitalize on its opponent’s vulnerability. It was the first goal Switzerland allowed all tournament long.

Spain quickly lost its momentum on a self-inflicted wound, as poor communication between a defender and her goalie resulted in an own goal as Spain’s Teresa Abilleira scored an own goal in 11′.

Spain quickly regained its composure, punching back with an admirable header from Alba Maria Redondo Ferrer in 17′ and in the 36′, Bonmatí scored a brace and Spain’s three on the day.

This piece of footwork from Bonmatí was just amazing. So much so that it dropped a Swiss defender, and froze the goalkeeper, as Spain took a 3-1 lead in the 36′. It’s the fourth brace by a Spanish player in World Cup history, and third from Spain in these games (Hermoso Fuentes, Alba Maria Redondo Ferrer) are the others.

Laia Codina redeemed herself after an early mishap, heading in a corner kick in 45′ to put La Roja up 4-1 just before halftime as Switzerland was helpless at this stage.

Spain was  dominant in both first and second halves of the encounter, although Switzerland tried without much success to penetrate the Spanish back four.

One of Spain’s top goalscorers heading into the affair continued her hot tear in this one, making Switzerland pay for a giveaway by uncorking a torpedo shot into the left corner of the net by Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso Fuentes who scored the 5th  goal in 70′

Spain had the offense clicking in the first half, and its defense got in on the party in the second, as it continued to hold Switzerland off till the end of the match thus Spain march on to the next round with so much ease.