The Swiss women's football team has beaten the Philippines 2-0 in their respective first Group A matches at the FIFA Women's World Cup Friday (July 21) in New Zealand.
Ramona Bachmann scored the first goal for the 20th-ranked side before halftime, while Seraina Piubel secured the second in the 64th minute.
The match was the first time a Philippine team has ever played in the FIFA World Cup - men's or women's - in the country's sporting history, and former national team player Camille Rodriguez expects an even "hungrier" Filipinas as they face co-host nation New Zealand Ferns in its next match on July 25.
"I believe that we will give a really good performance against New Zealand," she told Philippine news outlet ABS-CBN. "They put up a really good fight. They came here to compete and beat teams. There were moments of brilliance."
Filipina Katrina Guillou almost scored a goal at the 16th minute, but was disallowed due to an offside call. Despite this, CamRod, as Rodriguez is called, explained the country still saw the attempt as a win. "[I]t just showed we can score," she added in Tagalog.
Rodriguez now plays with Lords FA in the Indian Women's League
The Football Ferns, whom the Filipinas would face next, won an emotional victory Thursday (July 20) 1-0 against Norway in the very first match of the Women's World Cup after a gunman attempted to dampen the sporting spirit in Auckland earlier that day.
The Swiss would face the Norwegian Grasshoppers in their next match also on July 25.
Spain Wins Against Costa Rica 3-0
Spain dominated Costa Rica anew with three goals in a span of seven minutes (Valeria del Campo, 21'; Aitana Bonmati, 23'; Esther Gonzalez, 27'), leaving the Ticas no chance to settle the score for the rest of the game.
The Rojas asserted their offensive dominance in the field, racking up 46 goal attempts to Costa Rica's single shot, which went wide.
Spain looks forward to winning another game on July 26 when they face off with the Zambian Copper Queens, while the Ticas would need to defeat Asian powerhouse Nadeshiko Japan.
Canada vs. Nigeria 0-0
Meanwhile, Canada and Nigeria ended their match in Melbourne in a scoreless draw after Canadian player Christine Sinclair missed a chance to become the first player to score at six FIFA World Cups.
Super Falcon Deborah Abiodun was dismissed from the field in the late stages of the game after a video assistant referee (VAR) ruled the player copped a penalty. Sinclair was given a penalty kick, but was thwarted by Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
While match winners get three points, those who scored a draw would share a point each in the World Cup group rankings.
Moving forward, Nigeria would be facing co-host Australia on July 27 after the Matildas beat Ireland 1-0 in their first match Thursday (July 20). The Girls in Green would have to contend with the Canadians in their next game on July 26.
Upcoming Matches
Saturday's (July 22) World Cup matches would see powerhouse action, as defending champions US Stars and Stripes will play against the Vietnamese Golden Stars in Group E and England's Lionesses square off with the Haitian Grenadiers in Group D.
2023's World Cup would be US team captain Megan Rapinoe's last after earlier announcing her retirement at the end of the US soccer season.
Denmark and China (Group D) and Zambia and Japan (Group C) would also play on Saturday.
Related Article: Australia Defeats Ireland 1-0 in Women's World Cup
