Brilliant Bonmati emerges as Spain's leader

Sun, 06 Aug, 2023

Brilliant Bonmati emerges as Spain's leader

Auckland: Doubts were raised about Spain's ability to go far at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023  without a fully fit Alexia Putellas, but Aitana Bonmati's starring role in their 5-1 demolition of Switzerland showed that they are not over-reliant on the current Ballon d'Or.

By the time Putellas came off the bench in the 77th minute on Saturday, the last-16 tie at Eden Park in Auckland was already over, Bonmati having scored two goals and set up two more in a masterful display.
 
Spain are in a Women's World Cup quarter-final for the first time in their history despite the fact Putellas has so far been used sparingly in New Zealand.

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Ikeda produces another Nadeshiko masterpiece

Sun, 06 Aug, 2023

Ikeda produces another Nadeshiko masterpiece

Wellington: Futoshi Ikeda did it again as Japan outfoxed Norway to advance to the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 quarter-finals on Saturday.

Just as he did in the the emphatic group stage win over Spain, Ikeda's ability to get his players to change tactics paid off handsomely at the Wellington Regional Stadium as the Nadeshiko outwitted Norway 3-1 to set up a meeting with either Sweden or defending champions the United States in Auckland on Friday. 

Japan book last eight spot in style

Sat, 05 Aug, 2023

Japan book last eight spot in style

Wellington: Japan advanced to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 with an emphatic 3-1 Round-of-16 win over Norway at Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday.

The impressive win means Japan await the winners of Sunday’s encounter between the United States and Sweden in the quarter-final match scheduled for Friday in Auckland.  

Classy Bonmati takes five-star Spain into q-finals

Sat, 05 Aug, 2023

Classy Bonmati takes five-star Spain into q-finals

Auckland: Aitana Bonmati played a starring role with a brace and two assists as Spain defeated Switzerland 5-1 at Eden Park on Saturday to march into the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time in their history.

Bonmati's early opener in the last-16 tie in Auckland was cancelled out by a spectacular own goal from Laia Codina, but Alba Redondo restored Spain's lead and Bonmati scored again to make it 3-1.
 
Codina then made up for her error by getting her team's fourth before the interval, and Jennifer Hermoso made it 5-1 in the second half in front of 43,217 fans, a new record crowd for a football match in New Zealand.
 
The result was a huge boost to Spain following their 4-0 defeat by Japan in their last group game, and the performance justified head coach Jorge Vilda's decision to leave Alexia Putellas out of his starting line-up.