Germany strolled to an impressive 6-0 victory over Morocco in their opening FIFA Women's World Cup Finals fixture at Melbourne's AAMI Park on July 24, the 27,256 fans present treated to a commanding display by the two-time winners, particularly in the second spell. The Germans signalled their intentions as early as the fourth minute, Klara Buehl sending a twenty-five yard free-kick sizzling past the diving Khadija Er-Rmichi and the far post. But they had just seven more minutes to wait before breaking the deadlock. Jule Brand's cross from the by-line was missed by Er-Rmichi, inviting Buehl to shoot at the target. Hanane Ait El Haj was on hand to clear off the line, but within seconds, Yasmin Mrabet had conceded possession cheaply in Morocco's defensive third. Brand was the beneficiary, and sent Kathrin Hendrich hurtling to the by-line, from where she picked out the head of Alexandra Popp. Germany's prolific goalscoring captain was never going to miss from eight yards - 1-0. After conceding so early, the Women's World Cup debutants could have quickly capitulated, but they offered plenty of resistance to their well-storied rivals, and while Germany comfortably kept their North African opponents at arm's length, they still had to be wary, as eye-catchingly-performed Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak underlined with a twenty-five yard thunderbolt which drew a solid save from Merle Frohms in the 24th minute. Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's charges underlined their superiority in the 33rd minute, when Sara Daebritz had a goal ruled out by the offside flag, and again five minutes later, when Buehl's corner picked out Popp, whose six-yard diving header flew past Er-Rmichi to double Germany's lead. Four minutes before the interval, Morocco had a great chance to half the deficit when Fatima Tagnaout was sent racing through by Anissa Lahmari's perceptive pass. But she lost the courage of her convictions when confronted by Frohms in the penalty area, although perhaps the offside flag may have had something to do with her sudden cessation of the attack. Right on half-time, Buehl saw a goalbound shot blocked by Zineb Redouani's desperate lunge after Germany carved open Morocco's left flank. Worse was to come for Reynald Pedros' side, however, for Germany increased their lead just 23 seconds into the second half. Sarah Kassi's misjudgement was pounced on by Buehl, who swept past three opponents before delivering a cross to the far post. Brand hooked the ball inside to Lina Magull, whose header rattled the post. Morocco failed to clear the rebound, and when the ball rolled into Buehl's stride she thrashed an unerring ten yard drive beyond Er-Rmichi - 3-0. Three minutes later, Buehl hit the post on receipt of a delightful pass from Brand which nutmegged the offside figure of Magull en route to the recipient. Morocco responded via their captain, Chebbak unleashing another stinging drive which forced a smothering save from Frohms. The Moroccan captain charged again in the 52nd minute, latching onto a Sakina Ouzraoui pass before threading the needle to play in Lahmari. She picked out the top corner of the net to the delight of her team-mates, but their joy was short-lived -

once again, the offside flag contributed to proceedings. After some splendid wing play by Brand saw her dance past two opponents and eventually earn a corner, Germany increased their lead still further in the 54th minute. Buehl's corner to the far post was cleared to Svenja Huth, who lobbed it back into the danger zone. Elodie Nakkach's attempt to head clear succeeded only in diverting the ball into the path of retreating team-mate Ait El Haj, off whom the ball ricocheted into the net for a heartbreaking own goal. There was no way back for Morocco from this, so damage limitation became their objective. They survived a 64th minute raid when Magull sent Brand slaloming through the defence, only to see her shot deflect to safety off Ait El Haj, Er-Rmichi completing the job by turning the ball round the post. From Felicitas Rauch's resulting corner, the post again came to Morocco's aid, Daebritz's glancing header cannoning off the far upright. After Kassi had headed clear with both Daebritz and substitute Lea Schueller lurking with intent to tuck home another cross from Brand, the Germans went nap courtesy another own goal, Redouani this time the unfortunate defender involved. Rauch whipped in another corner which Er-Rmichi punched against the head of team-mate Mrabet, the ball ricocheting goalwards. Redouani's despairing efforts to hook the sphere to safety succeeding only in directing the ball over the line before the incoming figure of Popp could apply the final touch which would have completed her hat-trick. To their credit, Morocco never gave up in their quest to score a maiden World Cup goal. Two Tagnaout corners caused consternation in the German goalmouth, the second of them enticing a shot from substitute Salma Amani which Frohms was forced to smother in the 87th minute. Another opening came their way in stoppage time, Chebbak - a shining light in a well-beaten side - looking to pick out substitute Sofia Bouftini. Frohms intervened once more, but by this time Germany had extended their advantage to 6-0, the biggest scoreline in the tournament so far. Nicole Anyomi sent fellow substitute Laura Freigang freewheeling down the flank, from where she scythed into the penalty area before pulling the ball back to Buehl. Her shot was parried by Er-Rmichi, but before she had a chance to recover possession, Schueller slammed the ball home. She was only denied a second stoppage time goal by the offside flag, having headed home between the legs of Er-Rmichi from close range. But a 6-0 triumph was more than satisfactory from Germany's perspective, and they've got plenty in reserve - the fabulously talented Lena Oberdorf, for instance - to suggest their stay in the southern hemisphere for these Finals will be a lengthy one. Germany:     Frohms; Huth, Hendrich, Doorsoun, Rauch (Hagel, 89); Daebritz, Magull (Schueller, 65), Leupolz (Lattwein, 65); Brand, Popp (Freigang, 82), Buehl (Anyomi, 65 (booked, 75)) Morocco:     Er-Rmichi; Kassi, Ait El Haj, Mrabet (El Chad, 82), Redouani; Ouzraoui (Bouftini, 90), Nakkach (Badri, 82), Chebbak; Ayane (Jraidi, 90), Lahmari (Amani, 67), Tagnaout Referee:     Tori Penso (USA)