NANTES, July 25 (Xinhua) — Reigning women’s World Cup holders Spain had to work hard and come from behind against a spirited Japan to win their first ever football game at the Paris Olympic Games on Thursday.
Goals from Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey turned the match around for the side who have to be considered gold medal favorites, despite a tough group that also contains Nigeria and Brazil.
Japan are one of the last teams to have beaten Spain, defeating them in the group stage in last year’s World Cup, after the Spanish had already assured a place in the next phase.
They showed themselves to be feisty rivals again in Nantes, with Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll pulling off a flying save to deny Aoba Fujino in just the second minute.
She then had to be quickly off her line to head clear another dangerous ball behind the Spanish defense, but there was nothing Coll could do to stop the Japanese taking the lead with a wonder-goal after 13 minutes.
Japan had a free kick five meters outside of the Spanish area and Fujino curled a powerful shot into the top corner of the net.
The goal spurred the Spanish into life, and Bonmati leveled midway through the half. The midfielder received the ball on the edge of the Japan area and showed quick feet to slip the across goal and into the net.
Spain then pinned their rivals back into their own half, but failed to find a way though before the break.
Salma Paralluelo went close on a couple of occasions, but the former 400-meter runner, was crowed out on both occasions, and despite Spain’s dominance, Japan defended solidly until the 74th minute, when Caldentey received the ball on the corner of the area and beat two defenders before curling in a shot that went in off the inside of the post.
