Esther Gonzalez struck twice and reigning world champion Spain opened its Women’s European Championship marketing campaign in emphatic vogue Thursday, thrashing Portugal 5-0.
The 32-year-old Gonzalez, now Spain’s oldest participant to function on the event, broke the impasse earlier than 18-year-old Vicky Lopez, the youngest, doubled the lead, underscoring a generational assertion from La Roja.
Captain Alexia Putellas additionally discovered the online, signaling her return to prime kind after lacking Euro 2022 with a knee damage – a event by which Spain fell to eventual champion England within the quarterfinals.
“We’ve been talking about how motivated we are for this (Euro) for so long, and now we had to show it. We have reason to be pleased,” Putellas advised Spanish broadcaster TVE.
Substitute Cristina Martin-Prieto accomplished the scoring with a header in stoppage time.
Gonzalez wasted little time earlier than opening the scoring after 87 seconds with a flick previous Ines Pereira. It rapidly grew to become obvious the Portugal goalkeeper would have a busy sport, and she or he did.
Pereira did properly to clear a cross however was unable to cease Mariona Caldentey from organising Lopez for a tap-in minutes later.
Only 24 minutes had handed when followers started a Mexican wave across the practically 30,000-capacity Wankdorf Stadium, usually residence to Swiss Super League membership Young Boys. The membership additionally has a ladies’s workforce, which can be known as Young Boys.
Spain dominated possession in a textbook first-half show. Teammates’ off-the-ball motion ensured there was at all times a passing possibility. No participant held the ball for lengthy because it zipped across the area, leaving the Portuguese gamers chasing shadows.
Putellas went shut, Pereira denied Claudia Pina, and it was no shock when Putellas lastly netted the third purpose with good management to evade a defender within the forty first minute.
The fourth got here simply two minutes later when Gonzalez tucked within the rebound after Pina’s cross got here again off the publish.
But Spain coach Montse Tome could have considerations about her workforce’s second-half efficiency, as its stage of management dipped. Martin-Prieto’s late purpose was the one addition after the break.
Spain didn’t want Aitana Bonmati. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner stayed on the bench till changing Lopez within the 81st minute. Bonmati had been a doubt for the event after being hospitalized with viral meningitis final week.
“She’s a very important player for us and we’re happy she’s back with us after recovering from her illness,” Putellas stated of Bonmati. “Now we hope she can get back quickly to top playing form.”
The sport was preceded by a second of silence for Portugal and Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota, who was killed in a automotive crash along with his brother the evening earlier than.
Italy defeated Belgium 1-0 within the different Group B sport earlier Thursday. Spain performs Belgium subsequent on Monday.
Source: www.dailysabah.com