- Spain Dominates Zambia with 10-0 Victory, Advances to Round of 16
- Hermoso’s Milestone Performance and Redondo’s Brace Propel Spain to Victory
- Spain’s Refinement and Fluidity Display Their Title Contender Potential
Spain advanced to the round of 16 with a performance that suggests they are title contenders. In the meantime, Zambia’s players were left lying on the ground in despair after conceding ten goals in their first two World Cup games. They were sent home early after losing their first two matches.
Jenni Hermoso scored twice on her 100th appearance, bringing her total to 50 international goals. Two goals from substitute Alba Redondo and an emphatic goal from Teresa Abelleira rounded out the rout in Auckland.
After two goals in the first half, it was not until the final 20 minutes that the scoreboard reflected Spain’s dominance, and both Hermoso and Redondo were forced to wait for a VAR review, with the pronouncement of their goals adding to the confusion. Five was no more than Spain deserved; they had dominated and once again displayed the profundity of their quality.
Even though there will be much tougher exams, this leaves the impression that there is more to come.
Naturally, much of the focus was on the return of Alexia Putellas, who was making her first competitive start since the cruciate knee ligament rupture that kept her out of the Euros in 2022 and the majority of last season; it took her less than three minutes to fire her first shot. But that would diminish a team with other assets. Here, for instance, the addition of the dynamic Mariona Caldentey was also significant, with Spain transitioning to a 4-3-3 formation and surpassing Zambia. In the opening minutes, Putellas, Caldentey, and Hermoso were at the center of everything, with the ball constantly evading late-arriving opponents as it moved around their triangle.
This triumvirate teamed up to create the first goal, although Abelleira’s screamer from the edge of the box was still required. This occurred in nine minutes; four minutes later, the same combination resulted in a second goal, a beautiful exchange paving the way for a simpler finish. Caldentey gave the ball to Putellas, who delivered a precise cross to the far post, where Hermoso was able to score.
Spain, being so refined, made this appear to be too simple. Which it was on occasion. Zambia’s defensive performance was identical to that against Japan.
Due to Hazel Nali’s absence due to injury and Catherine Musonda’s dismissal after the opening match, Eunice Sakala started in goal. Initially, she was a weak, unconvincing presence, but by the end, she had made several impressive saves. The players in front of her were comparable: Putellas’ first effort came after three failed attempts to dislodge the ball.
With the ball, Zambia was primarily limited to long passes to Barbra Banda. She was fast and strong enough to fight alone, but not enough. Zambia’s first World Cup shot was a single run, and Irene Paredes blocked another before halftime. If the crowd chanted for Zambia to advance, they wanted a match.
Although there were fewer attempts than against Costa Rica, there was greater fluidity and a resurgence of identity for Spain. Hermoso’s third goal was declared offside, and after Martha Tembo’s error, Aitana Bonmat shot straight at Sakala from close range. Her header then evaded Sakala shortly after the resumption.
More opportunities arose. Spain made adjustments, cognizant of the fact that future contests would be more difficult. Patellas was removed at halftime, and Bonmat on the hour mark.
If Spain temporarily slowed, they did not halt. Even though Zambia’s menace was intermittent and still centered on the imposing Banda, it was also somewhat more apparent. But space became available, and Spain flooded in. Redondo fought off the last defender and went around Sakala to make it 3-0 before Hermoso added the fourth goal, which was returned to her by VAR after the assistant’s flag had disallowed it. The arbiter, Oh Hyeon-Jeong, initially confused everyone when she proclaimed, “No goal, no offside, goal, goal.” Irene Guerrero awaited the verdict with her fingers crossed, as this scenario was repeated shortly thereafter for Redondo’s second round. When the verdict finally came in, it was unanimous: Spain is a formidable team.
