Spain wants to be a prophet in its land. Almost 30 years after the historic Olympic gold in Barcelona, the Spanish field hockey team returned to play in front of its public in a great event such as a World Cup and did so with an incontestable victory in the opening match. The Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa, the venue for the tournament shared with Amstelveen (Netherlands), vibrated with the offensive gale of the redsticks, infinitely superior to Canada (X-X) in all facets of the game.
Aware of the importance of starting off on the right foot and an important goal income for future commitments, Adrian Lock's pupils came out to take over the game from the first minute. Motivated by the fact of playing at home, they did not feel the pressure of the host and in the first half they let the match be seen to sentence. Belén Iglesias' early goal after taking advantage of a penalty corner rebound paved the way for victory.
Canada did not know how to stop the constant siege of the redsticks and was forced to make fouls, conceding too many penalties and corners. In two of them Xantal Giné and María López would extend the advantage. Begoña García, before the break, scored the fourth.
After the restart, Spain slowed down and left the North Americans, led by Natalie Sourisseau, to be seen closer to the area defended by Melanie García. The dispute of the important match they will play against Argentina on Sunday could influence. A priori against the world champions and the Spanish they should play for the first place in group C, which gives direct access to the quarterfinals.
After a weak third quarter, a demanding Lock from the sidelines spurred the team to go for the fifth. However, in the final minutes they found a goal against Karli Johansen. Captain Gigi Oliva, who played the last World Cup, was named MVP of the match.
Argentina and the Netherlands are the main candidates for the title, although Spain, a renewed team with respect to Tokyo 2020, does not give up anything. Getting a medal would be considered a great achievement.
4- Spain: Melanie Garcia; Laura Barrios, Sara Barrios, Lucía Jiménez, María López (1), Belén Iglesias (1), Candela Mejías, Xantal Giné (1), Beatriz Pérez, Gigi Oliva, Alejandra Torres-Quevedo (Marta Segú, Constanza Amundson, Maialen García, Clara Ycart, Begoña García (1), Laia Vidosa, Jana Martínez).
1- Canadá: Rowan Harris; Jordyn Faiczak, Kathleen Leahy, Sara Goodman, Hannah Haughn, Karli Johansen (1), Natalie Sourisseau, Sara Mc Manus, Amanda Woodcroft, Madeline Secco, Brienne Stairs (Anna Mollenhauer, Madison Thompson, Grace Delmotte, Alexis de Armond, Audrey Sawers, Shanniee Johnston, Marcia Laplante).
Referees: Mc Clean (Trinidad and Tobago) and Harrison (England). Card to Begoña Garcia.
Partials: 1-0, 3-0, 0-0, 0-1
Goals: 1-0, m.4: Belén Iglesias (PC); 2-0, m.21: Xantal Giné (PC); 3-0, m.27: María López (PC); 4-0, m.29: Begoña García; 4-1, m.57: Karli Johansen
Incidents: First match of group C of the Women's Field Hockey World Cup at the Tarrassa Olympic Stadium before some 2,500 spectators.
