July 21, (THEWILL) – Switzerland commenced their Women’s World Cup journey with a triumphant start, clinching a 2-0 victory against newcomers Philippines at Dunedin Stadium on Friday.
Ramona Bachmann’s well-executed first-half penalty and Seraina Piubel’s close-range effort contributed to Inka Grings’ side’s impressive win. The team was awarded a penalty by VAR after Coumba Sow was fouled by Jessika Cowart in the box, allowing Bachmann to calmly slot the ball past goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.
Under the guidance of former Matildas manager Alen Stajcic, the Philippines scripted history by becoming the first team from their country, regardless of gender, to compete in the finals of a global soccer tournament. Despite their commendable efforts, the Philippines saw an early goal disallowed for offside when midfielder Katrina Guillou’s strike was ruled out. Switzerland’s top scorer and most capped player, Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, had an opportunity to put her team ahead, but she fired over from close range before Bachmann’s penalty broke the deadlock.
Throughout the second half, Switzerland maintained their dominance and, through Piubel’s brilliance, doubled their lead in the 64th minute. Piubel confidently found the back of the net after McDaniel denied both Crnogorcevic and Sow, cementing Switzerland’s convincing win.
The match witnessed a significant number of empty seats in the 30,000-capacity stadium, despite FIFA’s initiative of distributing 20,000 complimentary tickets for games in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Dunedin in response to concerns about sluggish ticket sales in New Zealand.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
