Women’s Olympic Football got underway in Paris on Thursday, with the eyes of the world converging on France to see some of the best in the game.
The format for the group stages features six games a day, two at 4pm, two at 6pm and two at 8pm (all times UK time), in a real feast and festival of football.
Here at Beyond the 90, we want to look at the things we learnt from match day one focusing on one key thing from each of the opening six fixtures.
There were wins for Canada, Spain, USA, France, Germany and Brazil on a fantastic day of action in France.
Bonmati makes Spanish history
It was only ever going to be her, wasn’t it? The Champions of the World this summer are taking part in their first ever women’s football tournament at the Olympics.
In a squad full of star studded names, Aitana Bonmati stands head and shoulders above the rest. The Balon D’or winner was at her silky brilliant best on Thursday afternoon.
Spain found themselves one down on 13 minutes thanks to a stunning Aoba Fujino free kick, but Bonmati levelled proceedings just nine minutes later.
The Barcelona star held her run, was picked out superbly by Athenea del Castillo’s defence splitting pass, and the former controlled it superbly and slotted it underneath the Japan goalkeeper.
Canada display powers of recovery
In the second of the 4pm fixtures, Canada and New Zealand locked horns in Group A’s opener.
Mackenzie Barry knocked the New Zealander’s into a 13th minute lead, but soon came under a barrage of Canadian pressure.
Cloe Lacasse levelled proceedings right before half time, smashing home after being found in the middle of the box.
Former Chelsea star Jessie Fleming then set up AS Roma’s Evelyne Viens who put the reigning Gold Medalists ahead, and it stayed that way to ensure the Tokyo 2020 winners got their campaign off to the best possible start.
A Brazilian rocket
In their first game of the tournament, Arthur Elias’ side rode to a 1-0 win over Nigeria, with a probable goal of the tournament contender.
Marta, the legendary forward picked up the ball in the middle of the park, feeding Gabi Nunes with a sumptuous reverse pass. The ball, on the turn, 0n her left foot was inch perfect for Nunes to run onto and smash home past Nigeria keeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie to spark Brazilian Bedlam.
The Levante UD forward’s effort will be one of the goals of the tournament, no doubt. Her strike left team mates and fans alike purring at her ability all the while giving Brazil the start of dreams at this summer’s sporting festival.
The Brand and Gwinn show
Germany opened up their proceedings in Marseille against an Australia side that simply, did not show up to the party.
It was the German’s right side that caused all sorts of havoc for the Matilldas, with Gulia Gwinn and Jule Brand arriving as the double act of dreams.
Gwinn’s sumptuous corner found the head of Marina Hegering, who’s towering header powered the Germans into a deserved lead.
Gwinn was on the assist sheet again in the second half, brilliantly teeing up Lea Schuller to double the Germans lead.
Jule Brand had been up and down the pitch like the duracel bunny for most of the game so far, and got her just deserts when she steamed onto the end of a move which cut Australia open so easily, to put the third and final nail in the Aussie coffin.
The United States’ rapid double
In one of the 8pm fixtures, the United States were keen to make their mark.
Under the stewardship of Emma Hayes, a new dawn for the USWNT was well underway and by the 25th minute, Hayes’ stamp on proceedings was clearer than ever.
Having taken the lead thanks to a stunning Trinity Rodman goal, turning past two Zambian defenders before firing low into the corner, Mallory Swanson then fancied getting in on the act, scoring twice in about a minute, to firmly take the game away from Zambia, despite such resolute defending before the US took the lead.
The States calmed down and played the game out with typical professionalism to open their Olympic campaign in the ideal way.
The game that had it all
France and Colombia kicked off at 8pm in Lyon and was unquestionably the game of the day. To be fair, it’ll take some doing to beat it for game of the tournament.
France raced into a 3-0 lead in the first half, with a Marie Antionette Katoto double sandwiched either side of a fantastic goal from Kenza Dali, who’s lobbed effort kissed the underside of the bar before dropping into the net in a fantastic first half for the hosts.
Colombia had been pretty poor, so played with freedom and with just under half an hour to go, found themselves back in it by virtue of a Catalina Usme penalty and a delicate Manuela Pavi chip.
Mayra Ramirez was a fantastic focal point up front, missing a golden chance to square the ball to a vacant team mate who would’ve surely made it 3-3, however, with just four minutes of normal time to go, a controversial refereeing decision withdrew any Colombia momentum.
Ramirez was awarded a yellow card for a rough challenge on left back, Selma Bacha, but it was reviewed by VAR and subsequently changed to a red card, which didn’t go down too well with the watching masses on social media.
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