Best Odds Center
best odds centre button
Click here!
Sport TV
watch live tv button
Click here!
to watch
Live FootBall
NPFL
Click here!
Live Scores
play watch Live Score button
Click here!

Aitana Bonmati Leads Spain to Victory Over Japan in Olympic Debut

Posted : 25 July 2024

In a thrilling start to the women's Olympic football tournament, reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati scored and assisted another goal to help World Cup champions Spain secure a 2-1 victory over Japan. Despite falling behind early to a free-kick by Aoba Fujino, Bonmati's efforts, along with Mariona Caldentey's winner, ensured Spain's debut at the Paris Games began with a win.

 

Spain, fresh off their World Cup triumph in Australia and New Zealand, are strong contenders for the gold medal. Although they initially trailed Japan in Nantes due to Fujino's 13th-minute strike, Bonmati soon equalized, and Caldentey sealed the victory in the 74th minute, giving Spain a perfect start in Group C, where they will face Nigeria and Brazil next.

 

Japan, who secured a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics, might find some solace as the tournament allows for two of the best third-placed teams from the groups to advance to the quarterfinals. Despite their early lead, Japan couldn't maintain their advantage as Spain, boasting seven players from their World Cup-winning squad, dominated possession and orchestrated a comeback.

 

The match highlighted the talents of players like Alexia Putellas and Hinata Miyazawa. While Miyazawa, the top scorer of the World Cup, played a key role for Japan, it was Fujino's early free-kick that tested Spain's resolve. Spain's equalizer came when Bonmati, assisted by Athenea del Castillo, scored past the Japanese goalkeeper. The decisive goal involved a quick interplay between Caldentey and Bonmati, ending with Caldentey's strike.

 

In other tournament news, defending Olympic champions Canada overcame a spying scandal to defeat New Zealand 2-1 in Saint-Etienne. New Zealand's Mackenzie Barry initially put her team ahead, but Canada's Cloe Lacasse equalized before halftime. Evelyne Viens scored the winner, overshadowing the controversy involving an assistant coach and analyst sent home for espionage. Canada's head coach Bev Priestman apologized and abstained from the match, underscoring the seriousness of the incident.

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics

close button
Please fill captcha :