Barely 24 hours after the co-host New Zealand defeated Norway by a lone goal to take charge of Group A, Switzerland have dethrone them after they defeated debutants, Philippines 2-0 in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Ramona Bachman and Seraina Piubel scored a goal in each half respectively to give the European ladies a comfortable victory.
The debutants started like a house on fire and in the 16th minute Katrina Guillou found the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside.
The Swiss gradually grew into the match and eventually dictated the pace and missed couple of chances.
Switzerland’s persistence finally paid off when, after a video assistant referee review, they were given a penalty for a late challenge by Jessika Cowart on Coumba Sow.
Paris St-Germain forward Bachmann calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner past an unmoving Olivia McDaniel to give her side the lead just before the break.
Basking in the euphoria of their lone goal advantage, Switzerland dominated the second half and after McDaniel, in goal for Philippines saved from Crnogorcevic and Sow the ball landed in the path of Piubel who made no mistake with an easy tap-in.
Switzerland leads Group A on goal difference followed by New Zealand while Norway and Philippines occupy the last two positions. Their next game will be on Tuesday when New Zealand will take on Philippines while two European sisters, Switzerland and Norway will go head to head.
