FIFA Women’s World Cup: Spain thrash Switzerland to reach Quarter-finals
Spain beat Switzerland 5-1 in the round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup. Aitana Bonmati scored two goals to help La Roja reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
Switzerland kept three clean sheets to top Group A. But it took five minutes for Bonmati to breach their defence for the first goal for La Roja.
Spain reach Women’s World Cup Quarter-finals for the first time
Bonmati scored a brilliant double and was at the heart of everything good for the Spanish giants. Laia Codina scored at both ends, with Alba Redondo and Jennifer Hermoso also on target at Eden Park.
Spain finished second in Group C. After beating Costa Rica and Zambia by a combined 8-0 before being run ragged in a surprise 4-0 loss to Japan on Monday. Moreover, after their defeat to Japan, Spain coach Jorge Vilda decided to make five changes.
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez were dropped from the starting 11. Barcelona’s Cata Coll replaced Misa Rodriguez in goal. Moreover, defender Codina made her first start of the tournament.
Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati scores twice to send Spain into Quarter finals
Spain’s changes line-up worked for them, and it took five minutes for La Roja to take the lead. However, Switzerland got back in the game after Laia Codina’s own goal six minutes later.
Codina was looking for a long ball, but instead, she opted to pass the back to Coll. The goalkeeper was not expecting a back-pass, and the ball went beyond Coll into the back of the net.
However, Redondo calmed Spanish nerves when she headed home a lovely cross from Ona Battle in the 17th minute. Three minutes later, Bonmati pounced on a cross with her right foot, swivelled on the ball and worked it onto her left before securing the third goal.
Codina then bundled home Spain’s fourth from a corner just before half-time to earn redemption and put Spain 4-1 up at the break. In the second-half Spain slowed the game down before hitting the fifth goal.
La Roja added fifth goal in the 71st minute when Bonmati pounced on a loose Switzerland pass and played in Hermoso, who coolly completed the rout.
The Spaniards will now play the winner of Sunday’s last-16 game between the Netherlands and South Africa.
