ADELAIDE – The Women’s World Cup saw a remarkable display from Ary Borges, who scored a hat-trick for Brazil, while Germany secured a resounding victory to kick off their campaign.
Italy also celebrated a win, but it was a hard-fought one as substitute Cristiana Girelli’s 87th-minute header secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Argentina.
For Brazil, the quest for their first Women’s World Cup title began in style as they thrashed debutants Panama 4-0.
The Swedish coach Pia Sundhage’s side displayed a fluid and attacking game, with 23-year-old attacking midfielder Ary Borges leading the way.
She not only scored a hat-trick but also set up the other goal with a brilliant backheel assist to Bia Zaneratto.
The performance showcased the best goal of the competition so far.
Despite the emotion of Panama’s debut on the global stage, Brazil’s exhibition of attacking football overshadowed the occasion.
The result places Brazil at the top of Group F, with France surprisingly held to a goalless draw by Jamaica on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Germany dominated their match against Morocco with a crushing 6-0 win, marking the largest victory in the tournament so far.
The German team showcased their strength, highlighting why they are considered one of the favorites.
Alexandra Popp, the team’s captain, scored twice with close-range finishes, taking full advantage of Morocco’s defensive lapses.
Klara Buehl added another goal after half-time, effectively ending any hope of a comeback for Morocco.
Two own goals and a late sixth from Lea Schueller completed the one-sided affair.
“The match was a David and Goliath encounter, and we came up against a superior team today,” said Morocco’s French coach Reynald Pedros after the game.
In the fiery clash between Italy and Argentina, Juventus veteran Cristiana Girelli emerged as the hero, scoring the winner with a superb header just four minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The match was closely contested, resulting in six yellow cards, but Girelli’s impact secured the victory for Italy in front of nearly 31,000 fans in Auckland.
“I am really happy for me and my teammates because we deserved the victory,” said Girelli, who had previously scored a hat-trick against Jamaica in the 2019 World Cup.
Germany and Brazil’s dominant performances indicate the intense competition at the Women’s World Cup, with the lower-ranked teams proving resilient.
The tournament continues on Tuesday with Colombia facing South Korea in Group H, and co-hosts New Zealand taking on debutants the Philippines in Wellington.
Additionally, Switzerland will go head-to-head with former champions Norway in the third match of the day.
