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07/03 18:29 CDT World champion Spain routs Portugal 5-0 in their Euro 2025
opener
World champion Spain routs Portugal 5-0 in their Euro 2025 opener
By CIARAN FAHEY
AP Sports Writer
BERN (AP) --- Esther Gonzlez scored twice and world champion Spain delivered a
strong statement by routing Portugal 5-0 in their Women's European Championship
opener on Thursday.
The 32-year-old Gonzlez became the oldest player to play for Spain at the
tournament and she scored minutes before the youngest, 18-year-old Vicky Lpez,
added the second goal.
Spain captain Alexia Putellas also scored for La Roja, showing she's ready to
lead the team to success after missing Euro 2022 with a knee injury. Spain lost
to eventual winner England in the quarterfinals of that tournament.
"We've been talking about how motivated we are for this (Euro) for so long, and
now we had to show it. We have reason to be pleased," Putellas told Spanish
broadcaster TVE.
Substitute Cristina Martin-Prieto completed the scoring with a header in
stoppage time.
Gonzlez wasted little time before opening the scoring after 87 seconds with a
flick past Ins Pereira. It quickly became apparent the Portugal goalkeeper
would have a busy game. She did.
Pereira did well to clear a cross but was unable to stop Mariona Caldentey
giving Lpez a tap-in minutes later.
Only 24 minutes were played when the fans started a Mexican wave around the
nearly 30,000-capacity Wankdorf Stadium, normally home to Swiss Super League
team Young Boys. The club also has a women's team, which is also called Young
Boys.
Spain dominated possession in a textbook first-half display. Teammates' work
off the ball ensured there was always a passing option. No player had the ball
for long as it zipped around and the Portuguese players were left to chase it.
Putellas went close, Pereira denied Cludia Pina, and it was no surprise when
Putellas finally got the third goal after she displayed some brilliant control
to evade a defender in the 41st.
The fourth came two minutes later when Gonzlez tucked in the rebound after
Pina's cross came back off the post.
But Spain coach Montse Tom may have concerns about her team's second-half
performance as her players' level of control dropped. Martin-Prieto's late goal
was the only addition.
Spain didn't need Aitana Bonmat. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner stayed on the
substitutes bench until going on for Lpez in the 81st. Bonmat had been a
doubt for the tournament after being hospitalized for viral meningitis last
week.
"She's a very important player for us and we're happy she's back with us after
recovering from her illness," Putellas said of Bonmat. "Now we hope she can
get back quickly to top playing form."
The game was preceded by a moment's silence for Portugal and Liverpool forward
Diogo Jota, killed in a car crash with his brother the night before.
Italy defeated Belgium 1-0 in the other Group B game earlier. Spain plays
Belgium next on Monday.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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