Spain clear for quarter-finals – beat Switzerland

8/5/2023, 7:03:19 AM

Highlights: Spain is the first country to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati was the big winner with Spain's first two goals in the 5-1 thrashing of Switzerland. Spain will now face the winner of the eighth final between the Netherlands and South Africa. The final will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday, July 14. The winner will face either Brazil or Germany in the semi-finals. The other semifinal will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 16.

Spain is the first country to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati was the big winner with Spain's first two goals in the 5-1 thrashing of Switzerland.

The question marks were not non-existent when Spain would step into the playoffs. Big loss against Japan in the last group game and missed first place, a national team debuting goalkeeper in Cata Coll and also Alexia Putellas out of form and out of the starting line-up.

After Aitana Bonmati gave Spain an early lead, the Spaniards ran into a new concern. An unlikely own goal from over 40 yards from Laia Codina equalized the match for Switzerland.

CLIP: See the unlikely own goal

Javascript is disabled

Javascript must be turned on to play video

Learn more about browser support

Watch Spain's unlikely own goal in the player above Photo: Viaplay

Rose after the own goal

But Spain then grabbed the baton and never let it go. Before half-time, the lead was up to 4–1 after Bonmati leakingly scored his second goal of the day and Codina took revenge on his own goal.

In the second half, Spain continued to dominate and also scored 5–1 through Jennifer Hermoso.

For Spain, the winner of the eighth final between the Netherlands and South Africa now awaits.