📝 Imperious Spain blow Costa Rica away in perfect 45 minutes | OneFootball

Spain produced a blistering first half display to beat Costa Rica 3-0 and get their World Cup campaign off to the best possible start.

Scorers: Del Campo (OG) 21′, Bonmati 23′, Gonzalez 28′

Group C got underway in Wellington on Friday with one of the pre-tournament favourites taking on the minnows from Central America.

Spain, as expected, were enjoying an almost complete monopoly on the ball early on and were peppering the Costa Rica goal with shots on target.

And the breakthrough came on 21 minutes as Valeria del Campo put the ball into her own net after good work by Esther Gonzalez.

Within 90 seconds La Roja doubled their lead as Aitana Bonmati curled in a beauty from the edge of the area.

The floodgates were opening now and Gonzalaz added a third before the 30 minutes mark by lashing home from close range.

Spain really should have got a fourth on 35 minutes as Jenni Hermoso earned a penalty, but she struck her effort right down the middle with the Costa Rica goalkeeper flapping the shot away.

By the time the clock hit 45 minutes, Spain had enjoyed a record-breaking 26 shots.

Into the second half and, naturally, Spain took their foot off the gas and kept the opposition at arms’ length.

The most notable moment in the second half came late on as Alexia Putellas returned to the side after a long time out through injury.