Spain is holding the ball over the first 5’ doing nothing with it, Esther and Gotham get their first mention at 6’ as a lead ball over top is too far. A late tackle in the area at 7’ has a PK for Spain, not the leading goal scorer for club in country taking the kick, but Mariona, is just wide left. Spain still has the better of the ball but not really getting in on goal, they will this is too much pressure to keep absorbing. Wow there is shield then, there is impeding that was the case as Switzerland hold off Spain at the endline, well off the ball, no call. The Swiss get forward the pass into the area to a red shirt, no white ones nearby. A break for the Swiss the ball in played out, recovered just out of the area but nothing doing. Spain foul as the Swiss are again getting forward, a two handed push from behind, from about 30 yards, I do not expect it to be a shot. The line is at the top of the area, over the top partially cleared by Spain, player slides but they regain it. A high ball into Esther is too high barely getting a head on it. Role reversal as the Swiss player who was pushed now does the same to the one who pushed here again about 30 yards but to the side on goal and redirected, that was in if not for a well timed leap a bit to her right. A number of hard fouls and now the ref has a talk with a player. A long pass off the restart and it is off to the races for the Swiss, the ball in, turned out and a whistle. A lead ball to Esther did not have enough on it to get past the defender, she is being shadowed big time. Spain moving the ball well, the ball across, too far but run down and they hold it. Esther gets it after calling for it given up then it goes out. A deep throw for Spain then goes back to the GK? They get forward again, top of the box and shot at the GK. Stolen in the neutral zone exchanged again the ball into the 67, turned away and Alexandri is cautioned, her 2nd should Spain advance, she will sit it out. Esther with a pair on her, gets off a shot, recovers the block and Spain holds it, the clearance intercepted, and they go back with it. Into the area a few red shirts and then a shot in the area goes just wide by Pina. Over the course of these games, Spain has outscored the Swiss 14-4 and are tied for the lead. Spain gets it endline and play it far across Swiss sliding tackle sends it forward back to Spain. Now the Swiss slow a bit and are just outnumbered, a tackle puts one down. Esther goes outside from Putellas , defended out of touch for a deep throw maybe 20 yards in, across the field now outside. Spain works the ball well for a shot deflected out for a corner at 32’ as a player is down for Switzerland. Schertenlib is hopping off. Corner into the 6 and headed by Calligars well out, endline again for Spain and winning a corner. Esther and the GK getting into it, ref comes by. Olga with a shot from the top of the area, leaning back and it was well above the goal. Spain over the top and it is lost. Spain moves the ball well earn a deep throw at 10 yards to Putellas, seeking out Esther and it’s out of play off the Gotham players head. Alexandrie suffers a foul wondering why no yellow on the player, who is also on a yellow for the tourney. Spain with another throw deep near the top of the area, it is lost and Switzerland has one from the same spot. Miscommunication by Spain and they give up a throw. Battle wins a throw near the top of the 18. At 40’ though Spain is having much more of the ball, they have nothing to show for it, this helps the Swiss in a big way, though they are expending a lot of energy defending. A ball into the area by Spain maybe a first time shot, it is settled and passed off then sent out. Another corner from a cross played out by the defense. Corners are 3-0 Spain and an indicator of offense. It is headed and off the frame. The captain Paredes hits the outside of the post from about 10 yards, what a chance. Corner by Spain goes long and back to their GK. A long ball driven into an empty area is to the GK. Spain steals it inside again and high but headed up and they keep it. Lost and the Swiss get forward, defended out of touch in their defensive half. Olga beaten twice and it is played forward tackled in the area. Two minutes of stoppage time to go. Over the top and wide for Spain with a minute to go. Spain continues to possess well in tight spaces, lacking in the passing.
Not the expected score line at the half. Spain the defending WWC Champions with 11 of those players are countered by a trio of 18 year olds. The difference here is Pia, the Swiss coach, her system is working out, with a bit of luck on a headed ball. Spain for their part need to capitalize on all their possession and the Swiss with their limited looks need to get one in.
Switzerland with the GK a bit off the line look to beat her but the shot is errant. The Swiss have changed up a bit and in the very early going of the 2nd half dong better. Pilgrim. in for the Swiss Spain out goes Olga for Quabahi out Mariona. Pilgrim with an early shot on goal then a caution moments later. The Spain captain just ducks a caution for a foul on Pilgrim. Spain with the opening salvo at 66’ Athena a new sub with a class assist to Castillo with 18 goals over 62 international games, her 2nd of the tourney. Pilgrim sprung but the GK off her line covers it up a great lead ball into the area. Again Pilgrim the target but is out run to it. Spain again holding as they move the ball across the field. Shot from about 12 yards, a bit to the side blocked out and now Pilgrim runs down the ball, offside. Spain from far Pina puts it where the spiders go and the Swiss think the ref interfered? Caution to Spain. Walti thinks she was fouled, even if so play to the whistle, what a shot from beyond the area as it finds the side netting. Pilgrim again it is cleared now a foul and card to Walti. The ref was nowhere near the ball, no idea how the commentators came up with that? A Swiss sub enter, now each team has 3 left. The Swiss get near the area, Paredes sends it out, Swiss come back . The Swiss hold, looking for something on the right side finding nothing, go left, a shot well off the mark. Spain with a sub, Pina out Vicky in Esther sits for Paralluelo. Lopez endline and back lays it back. Alexia off at 80’. 29,734 at this game, to give some context, Sports Illustrated Stadium holds less than 26,000. A quartet of the Italian team are shown again one bound for the NWSL, with a NY Yankee hat on. Yellow at 83’ as Crnogevivic pushes the attacker to the field. Putellas into the area, played out Spain recovers, back into their defensive half. The Swiss need to limit these fouls as we have 5’ to go. Spain, not content to just run the clock out are looking to get forward. Perez with a great look, off the defender and a corner comes. Castillo gets stepped on in the area, I am sure a card or PK coming, it was studs up, it was in the area. She is up but off the field. Up to take the penalty kick Putellas she goes right as does the GK, not well taken to about 4 feet high and not so near the right post. Swiss get forward and a ball into the area and through it. Garcia is now in for Spain. A huge roar goes up as Beney is out and Lehmann is in, Schertenlab out Xhemelin in. The center back of the Swiss just made Swiss cheese of about 4 Spanish players, yes, I waited until the full 90’ to make such a comment there are 3’ more to come. A red card to Maritz for denyng an obvious goal scoring opportunity at 92’. Such a correct call as she takes out the trailing foot. Clattenberg, their ref expert disagrees. Depending on how tight to 3’ the final whistle blows will tell how impactful the call was. Castillo with a long attempt and the goal kick is called back. Game over, Esther & Company move onto the winner of France and Germany come Wed. Esther shown giving high 5’s & greeting Swiss players, is clearly fired up!