Brazil star Marta claimed a record 15th Women’s World Cup goal in a 2-0 win over South Korea, while Spain and Colombia drew their opening games on Wednesday, UAE time.
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Marta’s second-half penalty in the Group E clash in Montreal saw the 29-year-old overtake Germany’s Birgit Prinz as the top goalscorer in the history of the tournament.
Veteran teammate Formiga, 37, had grabbed Brazil’s first-half opener to become the oldest ever Women’s World Cup goalscorer.
Brazil now lead Group E after rivals Spain and Costa Rica played out a 1-1 draw in Montreal. Vicky Losada’s first ever World Cup goal for La Roja on 13 minutes was cancelled out by Costa Rica’s Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno a minute later.
HISTORY! SENSACIONAL! #Marta becomes the #FIFAWWC all-time top scorer with 15 goals! #Legend #BRAKOR #BRA pic.twitter.com/hIgS3XFwNC
— FIFA Women’sWorldCup (@FIFAWWC) June 10, 2015
In Group F Colombia and Mexico drew 1-1 in a game where goalline technology was used for the first time at the women’s tournament.
Daniela Montoya’s late equaliser for Colombia denied Mexico a first World Cup win, as Veronica Perez’s 36th-minute goal was confirmed with the assist of technology.
Former champions Germany and Norway clash for Group B supremacy on Thursday as the second round of games get underway.
Hosts Canada will also be in action, going up against New Zealand in Group A in which China face a stiff test against a talented Dutch side in the second of their three group games.
Germany, the 2003 and 2007 winners, are top of Group B with a maximum three points along with 1995 champions Norway. Both eased through their first games against tournament debutants – Germany thrashing the Ivory Coast 10-0 while Norway beat Thailand 4-0.
The Ivorians play Thailand looking for a first World Cup win in Ottawa later on Thursday.
“It was very important for us to make a good start,” said Germany’s Celia Sasic who netted a hat-trick against the Africans.
“We already know Norway very well, as we’ve often faced one another at tournaments in the past. It will be a completely different game. We have to be aggressive against Norway, be robust, compact and come out on top in the challenges.”