PARIS (Reuters) – Spain playmaker Aitana Bonmati scored once and created another goal as the world champions came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in the opening Group C match of Olympics women’s soccer competition in Nantes on Thursday.
Olympic debutants Spain recovered from going behind to an early goal to avenge a 4-0 group stage loss to the Asians in last year’s World Cup, which they went on to win.
Japan opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Aoba Fujino’s superb free kick sailed into the top right corner, with goalkeeper Cata Coll only managing to get a finger to it.
Ballon d’Or winner Bonmati equalised for Spain only nine minutes later with an easy finish off a through ball by Athenea del Castillo after they cut through Japan’s defence.
Spain dominated possession in the second half and took the lead in the 74th minute courtesy of a Mariona Caldentey strike following a Bonmati pass to go top of the group.
Elsewhere, reigning Olympic champions Canada also claimed a 2-1 comeback victory over New Zealand in St Etienne in the first day of action in Group A.
Women’s football continues with medal contenders Germany, Australia, Brazil and the United States kicking off their Olympic campaigns later in the day.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Paris, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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