Spain scored a come-from-behind 3-1 win over South Africa at Stade Oceane in Le Havre on June 8 to get off to a winning start at the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals in front of 12,044 fans. Banyana Banyana came out with the sole intention of keeping the Spanish at bay for the first twenty minutes or so, a feat they managed - but only just! After five minutes, goalkeeper Andile Dlamini turned a twenty-yarder from Mariona Caldentey round the post, then grabbed an Alexia Putellas header two minutes later after a slick Spanish attack ignited by Maria Leon's surging run out of defence. The Spanish centre half featured again in the twelfth minute, Leon lashing a twenty-five yard free-kick inches over the bar, before deflecting a Nothando Vilakazi free-kick over the bar four minutes later. That was the first threat offered by the South Africans. Their next one brought the house down, as they took a shock lead in the 25th minute. After working an opening with Ode Fulutudilu, the speedy Thembi Kgatlana jinked inside and uncorked a curling twenty-yarder which startled Sandra Panos as it crashed into the top far corner of her net - 1-0 South Africa. That certainly wasn't in Spain's script, and they took a while to recover from the shock of going behind to one of the tournament's rank outsiders, whose massed defensive ranks proved nigh on impenetrable throughout the first half to a team who didn't aid their cause by overhitting crosses as they looked to employ their height advantage to good effect. It wasn't until right on the stroke of half-time that the Spanish forced another save from Dlamini, who tipped Marta Corredera's long-range effort onto the crossbar seconds after Irene Paredes had been superbly cleaned out in the penalty area by Noko Matlou's tackle. Spanish coach Jorge Vilda wasn't a happy chappy come the half-time whistle, and made it known to his charges during the interval. Two of them were replaced for the second spell, which the Europeans began with a hiss and a roar, Jennifer Hermoso volleying against the crossbar from the edge of the area just two minutes after play's resumption. Caldentey followed in, but was denied by Dlamini, who thwarted the same player four minutes later, after a wonderful run by Putellas which took her past four opponents in dazzling fashion. Banyana Banyana weren't going to sit on their lead, however, and came close to doubling it in the 57th minute. Fulutudilu swooped on a stray pass and

scooted down the right to the by-line, from where she pulled the ball back for Kgatlana. Her first-time shot was parried to safety by Panos, who was forced into a hurried clearance sixty seconds later as Kgatlana swiftly closed the gap as Irene Paredes' pass rolled towards the 'keeper. The game changed in the 68th minute, when South African captain Janine Van Wyk was adjudged to have handled a Hermoso cross. Chilean referee Maria Carvajal instantly pointed to the penalty spot, from where Hermoso sent Dlamini the wrong way to level the scores. Banyana Banyana never recovered from that blow, with only the offside flag denying Spain a second goal six minutes later, much to the disappointment of Virginia Torrecilla, whose celebrations were cut short. Nine minutes from time, the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee quashed any hopes South Africa may have held of holding on for a share of the spoils. Vilakazi followed through with a clearance, taking out substitute Lucia Garcia. Unfortunately for the defender, it was in the penalty area, and it was her second bookable offence … referee Carvajal had no option but to point to the spot then do the deed which saw Vilakazi become the first player dismissed at France 2019. Hermoso did the honours once again from twelve yards to give Spain a 2-1 lead seven minutes from time, one they extended six minutes later. Torrecilla's scintillating through ball sent Garcia galloping through the South African rearguard, and she outpaced Leandra Smeda before rounding Dlamini and rolling the ball home into an empty net. Only a vital Jermaine Seoposenwe tackle prevented Garcia from scoring again in stoppage time after Hermoso's clever back-heeled pass had played her in, but Spain had already done enough to earn their 3-1 win over a South African side which can take a lot of heart from their first hour of play in this tournament. Spain:          Panos; Torrejon, Paredes, Leon, Corredera (booked, 90); Losada (Bonmati, 46), Torrecilla, Putellas (N. Garcia, 73); Sampedro (L. Garcia, 46), Hermoso, Caldentey S. Africa:     Dlamini; Ramalepe, Van Wyk (booked, 68), Matlou, Vilakazi (booked, 60, 81 - sent off); Motlhalo (Ndimeni, 52), Biyana, Jane, Mthandi (Seoposenwe, 56); Fulutudilu (Smeda, 77), Kgatlana Referee:     Maria Carvajal (Chile)