The Spanish team ended the debate about lack of aim against Costa Rica with a win over Zambia (5-0). A great goal from Tere Abelleira opened the way and Jenni Hermoso and Alba Redondo, with a double each, signed a victory that places Spain at the top of the group ahead of Japan. With the qualification for the round of 16 already assured, on Monday (9 am) they will play as the first group against the Japanese, against whom a draw is enough to be leaders.
Spain jumped into Eden Park with clear ideas and plugged in from the initial whistle. I only need nine minutes to open the can and in 12 minutes he had already extended his lead by two goals. If the pending task against Costa Rica was finishing –with 46 shots and only three goals- against Zambia he shot twice between the three sticks and scored two goals. And that less than a quarter of an hour.
Tere Abelleira signed the first of the red with a shot from outside the area that slipped through the entire squad. An authentic goal to reward the good work of the midfielder from Pontevedra, who already performed at a high level in the first game despite the complicated duty of replacing one of the best in the world in the position of ‘6’ such as the blaugrana Patri Guijarro , absent in this appointment due to his dispute with the Federation to achieve improvements in the selection.
The presence of Alexia in the eleven of Spain, for the first time since he was injured at the gates of the Eurocup last summer, returned to the team a magical connection between the Ballon d’Or, Mariona Caldentey and Jenni Hermoso. The best opportunities for the reds were born from the constant triangulations between these players, who played their most brilliant moments of the tournament in the first minutes against Zambia. A spark that was lost when Vilda inexplicably exchanged Salma and Mariona for the band.
Just three minutes after Abelleira’s goal, Jenni Hermoso made it 2-0 to celebrate her hundred caps as a Spanish international. The Pachuca striker, who had been in midfield against Costa Rica, was the team’s number 9 against Zambia and scored a house brand goal. Alexia’s masterful center that the Madrilenian, entering from behind, finished off with a header into the back of the net. A goal to make up for the missed penalty at the Spanish debut and which allowed the team to widen the gap and the Madrilenian to win the MVP of the match.
The stage seemed propitious for a win, with a highly connected team overwhelming an impotent Zambia, whose only options were to surprise the back of the rival defense in the races of Barbra Banda or Kundananji. But it was not like that. Once again, Spain remained halfway and went from spectacle to indifference. He caught the mess from Zambia, the team broke up and was not able to flow in his game. Something that Zambia tried to take advantage of against. Ivana Andrés suffered a lot to try to stop Banda, who won almost all the duels. Fortunately for Spain, Ona Batlle and Irene Paredes fulfilled with note frustrating each internee of the forwards of Zambia.
Spain went into the break with the feeling of having gone from better to less and knowing that they needed three more goals if they wanted to surpass Japan on goal difference, thinking about the leadership of the group.
Going through the locker room did not help Spain to organize itself better and the changes introduced by Vilda at half-time did not help either. Two of the best players in the first half left, Alexia Putella and Ona Batlle. In the case of the midfielder, a change that is understood in her process of gaining minutes after her injury, but that is not explained in the case of the one recently signed by FC Barcelona. In addition, the coach also seated Aitana Bonmatí in minute 60, losing presence in midfield.
Al tran tran, in a play against, Spain found the third. A cross from Eva Navarro into space for an Alba Redondo who resisted the onslaught of an opponent who came out to cover her shot, cut the goalkeeper, unlucky in this action, and defined an empty goal. Taking advantage of the onslaught, Jenni Hermoso increased the distance with the fourth on a rebound and after reviewing the play for a possible offside. There was suspense, but the goal went up on the scoreboard, rounding off a stellar match for the Pachuca striker, who left with two goals scored –plus another disallowed for offside- in her 100th game with Spain.
Also with suspense came the fifth and final. Somewhat the work of Alba Redondo, who scored a brace coming off the bench in the second half. The most important goal for the Spanish team, which with it was the leader of group C with only one day left to complete the group stage. Japan and Spain will play to go to the round of 16 as leaders in their direct duel next Monday (9am).
5. Spain: Misa Rodríguez; Ona Battle (m.46, Oihane Hernández), Irene Paredes, Ivana Andrés, Olga Carmona; Teresa Abelleira, Aitana Bonmatí (m.61, Irene Guerrero), Alexia Putellas (m.46, Alba Redondo); Mariona Caldentey (m.83, Athenea del Castillo), Jennifer Hermoso and Salma Paralluelo (m.46, Eva Navarro).
Coach: Jorge Vilda.
0. Zambia: Eunice Sakala; Lushomo Mweemba (m.76, Vast Phiri), Margaret Belemu, Martha Tembo, Agness Musesa; Susan Banda (m.37, Mary Wilombe), Evarine Katongo (m.76, Ochumba Lubandji), Ireen Lungu; Rachael Kundananji, Barba Banda y Siomala Mapepa m.37, Avell Chitundu).
Coach: Bruce Mwape.
Goles: 1-0, m.9: Teresa Abelleira. 2-0, m.13: Jenni Hermoso. 3-0, m.69: Alba Redondo. 4-0, m.70, Jenni Hermoso. 5-0, m.85: Alba Redondo.
Referee: Oh Hyeon-jeong, South Korea. He warned Zambians Ochumba Lubandji and Martha Tambo with yellow cards.
Incidents: Match for the second day of group C of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, played at the Auckland Stadium before 20,983 spectators.
