European champions England started the women’s World Cup with a difficult win against newcomer Haiti.
Thanks to a hand penalty converted by Georgia Stanway (29th minute) from FC Bayern Munich in the second attempt, the team coached by Sarina Wiegman won 1-0 (1-0) against the outsider in Brisbane. The midfielder’s first attempt was saved by Haiti’s goalkeeper Kerly Theus, but she veered off the goal-line too early, forcing the penalty to be retaken.
In the final phase, England goalkeeper Mary Earps prevented a possible equalizer from Roseline Eloissaint (81st) in front of 44,369 spectators with a brilliant save and thus a false start in Group D.
USA starts in style
Defending champions USA also started the World Cup with a win. The four-time world champion prevailed 3-0 (2-0) against World Cup debutants Vietnam in Eden Park in Auckland. In front of 41,107 spectators, Sophia Smith scored twice in the first half (14th/45th 7 minutes) for the clearly superior US team. Vietnam’s goalkeeper parried a penalty kick from Alex Morgan (44′).
Megan Rapinoe earned her 200th cap as a substitute in the second half but, like her team-mates, missed a number of high-quality scoring chances. US captain Lindsey Horan finally marked the final score (77th). In Group E, coach Vlatko Andonovski’s team still meets their final opponents from 2019, the Netherlands, and World Cup debutants Portugal.
Japan sovereign too
Japan also started the tournament with a convincing victory. The 2011 World Champion defeated Zambia, a German friendlies, 5-0 (1-0) in Hamilton, New Zealand. Hinata Miyazawa (43rd minute/62nd) with a brace as well as ex-Leverkusenerin Mina Tanaka (55th), Jun Endo (71st) and Riko Ueki (90th 11th) with a penalty kick ensured with their goals the safe opening success in Group C.
Goalkeeper Catherine Musonda (90.7) saw a red card for Zambia, who recently beat the German national team 3-2 in a friendly in Fürth.
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