Spain ease past Switzerland to reach WWC quarter-finals

• Spain beat Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday morning to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) for the first time in history
• Chasing a first Women’s World Cup title, Spain will face the winner of Sunday’s round of 16 game between the Netherlands and South Africa

Spain beat Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday morning to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) for the first time in history. This is also the first time that La Roja recorded a knockout win at a major tournament.

Spain scored four goals in an incredible opening half, becoming the first team to do so in a Women’s World Cup knockout stage since USA put four past Japan in first half of the 2015 final.

Spain have won a knockout game at a major tournament for the first time in history. Photo/ CNN.

La Roja winning the match 5-1 was a perfect response to the 4-0 loss in their final group game against Japan on Monday. They finished second in Group C, beating Costa Rica and Zambia by a combined 8-0 before being humbled by Japan.

Chasing a first Women’s World Cup title, Spain will face the winner of Sunday’s round of 16 game between the Netherlands and South Africa.

How Spain Beat Switzerland 

Spain boss Jorge Vilda promised a response from his players after the 4-0 humiliation by Japan at the start of this week. He made five changes to his starting eleven, including dropping goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez in favour of Cata Coll. Rodriguez had started Spain’s last three games but was dropped and Coll given the opportunity to make der debut.

Spain got off a flying start, taking the lead after just five minutes of play through Aitana Bonmati. The 25-year-old who plays for Barcelona at club level showed great composure before firing the ball into the net. This was after Switzerland’s goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann had made a brilliant save from point-blank range.

The Swiss found themselves back into the game in bizarre circumstances six minutes later when Laia Codina’s backpass flew into the net. Codina smashed the ball from near the halfway line towards her own goalkeeper who could do little to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Spain took the lead once again in the 17th minute through Alba Redondo’s header. Ten minutes before half-time, Bonmati scored Spain’s third goal. It was also her second goal of the match. Codina would then make up for her bizarre own goal by scoring her side’s fourth goal of the game following a scramble in the box.

Laia Codina leads her teammates in celebrating after scoring Spain’s fourth goal. Photo/ ESPN.

In an attempt to turn things around, Switzerland made three midfield changes at half-time. However, Spain continued to dominate the game and added another through Jennifer Hermoso in the 70th minute. Hermoso’s clinical finish was her third goal of the tournament.

Speaking after the win, Spain’s head coach Jorge Vilda said, “We have shown what we can do and without having the best version. So, in the end we have arrived, we have pressed well, we have made history, we have shown that we are a team of 23 players. Today, yes, they are not words, they are deeds and we are happy, to be honest.”