Jenni Hermoso and Alba Redondo scored twice as Spain underlined their credentials as potential Fifa Women’s World Cup winners by thrashing Zambia to progress to the last 16 with a game to spare.

The Spanish opened their Group C campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win against Costa Rica last week, having a total of 46 shots on goal.

They picked up where they left off against Zambia, racing into a ninth-minute lead when Teresa Abelleira drove in a stunning strike from distance.

Hermoso doubled the lead just four minutes later, heading home a cross on her 100th appearance for her country.

Redondo then rounded the goalkeeper in the second half before Hermoso scored her 50th international goal late on after a lengthy video assistant referee check.

Hermoso almost had a hat-trick soon after but her shot was pushed on to the crossbar, but Spain got their fifth when Redondo drove home in the final few minutes.

The victory also ensured Japan - who beat Costa Rica 2-0 earlier on Thursday - also progress and the two sides will meet in a battle for first place on Monday, 31 July (08:00 BST).

  • Reaction as Spain beat Zambia to progress to last-16

Putellas returns as Spain send out warning

Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas was named on the bench in Spain’s opener against Costa Rica after working her way back to full fitness following a long-term injury, but she was handed a start against Women’s World Cup debutants Zambia.

The Barcelona midfielder showed no signs of rustiness as she was heavily involved in the action from the outset, and it was her cross that produced Spain’s second as she picked out Hermoso at the far post.

The two early goals hinted at a big win for Spain but Zambia - who would be eliminated with a defeat - did well to hold their opponents at bay until 20 minutes before the end.

By then, Zambia’s tiredness and Spain’s quality told as they added three further strikes to fairly reflect their overall dominance.

They also secured a second clean sheet of the tournament and a 13th win from the 15 games they have played since they were beaten by England in the Euro 2022 quarter-finals, with this latest victory sure to make their rivals sit up and notice.

  • Line-ups
  • Match Stats
  • Live Text

Line-ups

Spain

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Rodríguez Rivero
  • 2BatlleSubstituted forHernándezat 45’minutes
  • 4Paredes
  • 5Andrés
  • 19Carmona
  • 6BonmatíSubstituted forGuerreroat 61’minutes
  • 3Abelleira
  • 11PutellasSubstituted forRedondoat 45’minutes
  • 18ParallueloSubstituted forNavarroat 45’minutes
  • 10Hermoso
  • 8Caldentey OliverSubstituted fordel Castilloat 83’minutesSubstituted forat 0’minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Guerrero
  • 9González
  • 12Hernández
  • 13Salón
  • 14Codina
  • 15Navarro
  • 16Pérez
  • 17Redondo
  • 20Gálvez
  • 21Zornoza
  • 22del Castillo
  • 23Coll Lluch

Zambia

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 18Sakala
  • 8Belemu
  • 15Musesa
  • 3MweembaSubstituted forPhiriat 76’minutes
  • 13Tembo Booked at 90mins
  • 14Lungu
  • 4BandaSubstituted forWilombeat 37’minutes
  • 19MapepaSubstituted forChitunduat 37’minutes
  • 12KatongoSubstituted forLubandjiat 76’minutes Booked at 90mins
  • 17Kundananji
  • 11Banda

Substitutes

  • 2Soko
  • 5Mulenga
  • 6Wilombe
  • 7Lubandji
  • 9Mubanga
  • 10Selemani
  • 16Lungu
  • 20Chanda
  • 21Chitundu
  • 22Banda
  • 23Phiri

Referee: Hyeon-Jeong Oh

Attendance: 20,983

Match Stats

Live Text

  1. Athenea del Castillo went off injured after Spain had used all subs.

  2. Match ends, Spain 5, Zambia 0.

  3. Second Half ends, Spain 5, Zambia 0.

  4. Martha Tembo (Zambia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  5. Corner, Spain. Conceded by Eunice Sakala.

  6. Attempt saved. Alba Redondo (Spain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Irene Guerrero with a cross.

  7. Attempt missed. Racheal Kundananji (Zambia) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

  8. Offside, Zambia. Agness Musesa tries a through ball, but Barbra Banda is caught offside.

  9. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  10. Delay in match because of an injury Athenea del Castillo (Spain).

  11. Jenni Hermoso (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Foul by Ochumba Lubandji (Zambia).

  13. Attempt missed. Avell Chitundu (Zambia) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Margaret Belemu following a set piece situation.

  14. Foul by Eva Navarro (Spain).

  15. Martha Tembo (Zambia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  17. Delay in match because of an injury Teresa Abelleira (Spain).

  18. Ochumba Lubandji (Zambia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  19. Irene Paredes (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Foul by Ochumba Lubandji (Zambia).

*[]: *[González]: Esther González *[Salón]: Enith Salón *[Codina]: Laia Codina *[Pérez]: María Pérez *[Gálvez]: Rocío Gálvez *[Zornoza]: Claudia Zornoza *[Coll Lluch]: Cata Coll *[Sakala]: Eunice Sakala *[Belemu]: Margaret Belemu *[Musesa]: Agness Musesa *[Mweemba]: Lushomo Mweemba *[Phiri]: Vast Phiri *[Tembo]: Martha Tembo *[Lungu]: Leticia Lungu *[Banda]: Esther Banda *[Wilombe]: Mary Wilombe *[Mapepa]: Siomala Mapepa *[Chitundu]: Avell Chitundu *[Katongo]: Evarine Katongo *[Lubandji]: Ochumba Lubandji *[Kundananji]: Racheal Kundananji *[Soko]: Judith Soko *[Mulenga]: Mary Mulenga *[Mubanga]: Hellen Mubanga *[Selemani]: Comfort Selemani *[Chanda]: Hellen Chanda

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