Germany win
June 8, 2015
Germany 10-0 Ivory Coast
(Sasic 3', 14' 31, Mittag 29', 35', 64' Laudehr 71', Däbritz 75', Behringer 79', Popp 85')
Germany cruised to an emphatic 10-0 win over Ivory Coast in their opening game of the Women's World Cup in Ottawa, Canada. Hat tricks from Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag, as well as goals from Melanie Behringer, Simone Laudehr, Sara Däbritz and Alexandra Popp sealed the near record-equaling win.
Germany were dominant from start to finish, scoring five goals each half and creating 28 attempts on goal. The scoring began after just three minutes - Celia Sasic with a simple finish in the middle of the box. Leonie Maier, Alexandra Popp and Simone Laudehr all had chances to double the lead, but Ivory Coast captain Dominique Thiamale was keeping her side in the game. The pressure eventually relented, and Sasic grabbed the second on 13 minutes.
One of the German stars, 21-year old Melanie Leupolz, had to leave the pitch with injury on 16 minutes. She would return to the bench later on in the half, but that was the only worry of the game for the European champions. Three goals came in the space of six minutes to take the score to 5-0 at the break, with Sasic completing her hat trick either side of an Anja Mittag brace after just 31 minutes. It was the earliest hat trick scored in Women's World Cup history.
No contest for Neid's side
It was Ivory Coast who started the better in the second half, though. They even had the ball in the German net after Diakite Binta had challenged Nadine Angerer in the air, but a foul was given against the Ivory Coast forward. Soon after, Mittag should have sealed her hat trick, but with the goal beckoning in the middle of the box, she dragged her effort wide.
Eventually, though, a sixth goal came. Mittag followed Sasic's suit and grabbed her hat trick just after the hour mark, capitalizing on a defensive mistake - the third time in women's World Cup history that two players, on the same team, have scored hat tricks in a single game. A seventh goal followed minutes later, Simone Laudehr jinking her way into the box before slotting past Thiamale.
Seven became eight as substitute Sara Däbritz tapped home at the back post and the ninth goal was scored with 10 minutes to play. Germany were closing in on their record scoreline of 11-0 that they produced to open the 2007 tournament against Argentina. The scoreline reached double figures just before the end, as Alexandra Popp smashed home a free kick from just outside the box, and that's how it finished.
Norway put four past Thailand
In the earlier game in Group B on Sunday, Norway strolled past Thailand 4-0.
Norway, who have now won each of their six World Cup openers, took the lead after a quarter of an hour through a superb free kick from Trine Ronning. The lead was doubled 14 minutes later through Isabell Herlovsen and the 26-year-old added a second just five minutes later to leave the score at 3-0 through half-time.
Nineteen-year-old Ada Hederberg scored a fourth after 68 minutes to seal the win. Just before the end, Maren Majelde had a penalty saved by Thailand goalkeeper Waraporn Boonsing. Norway face Germany next on Thursday, whilst Ivory Coast play Thailand.