Spain's Esther Gonzalez celebrates a goal against Switzerland. Photo / photosport.nz
Spain 5
Switzerland 1
Maybe Palmerston North wasn’t so bad after all.
After the dramas around their preparation camp, then a 4-0 drubbing by Japan to round out the group stages, Spain now seem to be in a very good place.
They smashed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday evening, in one of the most one-sided sporting contests seen at this famous ground.
Spain are the first team through to the quarter-finals but more than that - they look like contenders for the crown.
This was a breathtaking performance, in front of a record football crowd of 43,217 in this country, with their patterns, passing and movement something to behold. They scored five but could easily have doubled that score, such was their dominance, with Swiss keeper Gaelle Thalmann providing stern resistance.
They had 26 shots to two, with the match over by halftime.
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati was outstanding for the Spanish, orchestrating the tempo and chipping in with two well-taken goals.
Before this match the Swiss hadn’t conceded at this tournament but they were shellshocked by the end. The world No 20 pride themselves on their defensive efficiency but had no answer to the constant waves of Iberian attack.
Spain will face the Netherlands or South Africa in the quarter-final in Wellington next Friday, before a return to Eden Park for the victor.
The Spanish, who love to be front-runners, made an excellent start. After Alba Redondo had her shot deflected onto the post, Bonmati finished brilliantly in the fifth minute, making room then slotting home from 12 yards. Though Switzerland tried to be more expansive than they were against the Football Ferns last Sunday, they struggled to make any inroads, as the Spanish pressed and harried effectively.
But they were gifted an equaliser, with surely the most bizarre own goal seen at a Women’s World Cup, as keeper Catalina Coll was caught hopelessly out of position, after defender Laia Codina passed unsighted from 40 metres.
It was a freak occurrence, as the lofted ball drifted past Coll, and an awful moment for the Spanish. But they quickly regrouped. They went close twice more – with captain Esther Gonzalez blocked from close range – before another delicious goal, as Redondo stooped to head home in the 17th minute, after clever lead-up work down the left flank.
It was just reward. Switzerland were trying to find something – mainly through captain Lia Waelti and playmaker Ramona Bachmann - but were limited to counter attacks, which were snuffed out quickly.
Spain had 10 shots on goal in the first 30 minutes, then accelerated from there.
Bonmati was everywhere. After seeing one shot deflected wide, she forced a desperate save from Thalmann, who got down brilliantly at her near post. But something was coming and inevitably it was Bonmati.
And it was a lovely goal, as she took out three defenders with an audacious turn in the box, then calmly sent the keeper the wrong way.
There was more before the interval, with Codina gaining some redemption, forcing home from a corner after some ping pong in the six-yard area.
Switzerland threw on three substitutes – and switched to a 3-4-3 formation – after halftime and finally had their first shot on goal in the 56th minute, with Meriame Terchoun volleying straight at the keeper.
But the Spanish beauty continued, with Jennifer Hermoso punishing an errant pass for their fifth.
There were several other chances, though the sting went out of the match, as the Swiss were forced into damage control.
Spain 5 (Aitana Bonmati 5, 36, Alba Redondo 17, Laia Codina 45, Jennifer Hermoso 70)
Switzerland 1 (Codina 12 og)
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