- 25 Jul 2024 - 17:17(17:17 GMT)
It’s a wrap!
Our live coverage of Spain vs Japan on the opening day of the women’s Olympic football competition has ended.
Thank you for joining us and I hope you enjoyed our coverage.
We will be back soon, but for now, it’s a goodbye from me, Manasi Pathak.
Please follow our Paris Olympics 2024 page for all the latest news, features, live updates and more.
- 25 Jul 2024 - 17:12(17:12 GMT)
More to come from Al Jazeera Sport
The focus now shifts to Group B where the United States, four-time world champions, will play Zambia in their opening game.
The match in Nice will kick off at 19:00 GMT. Al Jazeera is bringing you all the build-up and live updates from that match.
- 25 Jul 2024 - 17:10(17:10 GMT)
What are the standings?
Following their victories, Canada and Spain have taken the top spots in their respective groups.
Canada go top of Group A with three points after defeating New Zealand. Colombia and France are also in their group – they are due to play at 19:00 GMT.
Spain go top of Group C with three points after beating Japan. Brazil and Nigeria, the other two teams in this group, are facing each other right now.
Advertisement - 25 Jul 2024 - 17:06(17:06 GMT)
Canada come from behind to beat New Zealand
Just like Spain, reigning Olympic champions Canada pulled off a comeback win in their opening match at Paris 2024.
Mackenzie put New Zealand ahead in the 13th minute but Cloe scored the equaliser just moments before the break.
Later, Evelyne scored in the 79th minute to complete a hard-fought result for the Canadians, who made headlines for a spying scandal prior to the match.
- 25 Jul 2024 - 17:03(17:03 GMT)
Job well done by Spain
Spain went behind in the 13th minute when Fujino scored from a terrific free kick, but Bonmati fuelled claims that she’s the world’s best player by scoring the equaliser with ease following a brilliant team move.
Bonmati also helped set up the second goal for Caldentey, who sealed the victory with a cheeky finish in the 74th minute.
Spain were the better side throughout the game and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession against Japan.
The Asian side was defensively solid for large parts of the match, but they did not have an answer for Spain’s moments of brilliance.
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:55(16:55 GMT)
Full time: Spain 2-1 Japan
Goals from Bonmati and Caldentey have helped Spain register a comeback win over Japan in Nantes.
It’s also their first-ever victory at the Olympics.
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:53(16:53 GMT)
Close chances for Japan
Yamashita wins the ball on the right side and crosses the ball for the opposite end, but it lands too deep for anyone to connect.
Moments later, Nagano tries to shoot from the edge of the box, but fails to connect properly as the ball hits the ground.
90+4 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:50(16:50 GMT)
Six minutes added
That’s not a lot of stoppage time considering that the men’s game between Argentina and Morocco on Wednesday had 15 minutes added on!
90+1 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:49(16:49 GMT)
Japan make a change
Garcia sends her attempt wide over the goal, while Japan make another change, bringing in Moriya for Koga.
90 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
Advertisement - 25 Jul 2024 - 16:48(16:48 GMT)
Spain searching for a third goal
Batlle dances her way down the left wing before delivering a cross, which lands straight into the hands of the Japan keeper.
89 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:46(16:46 GMT)
Good block by Paredes
Japan try to trigger a counterattack from the right wing, but Spain defender and captain Paredes did well to clear away the danger.
Can Spain see the game out for their first-ever win at the Olympics?
87 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:44(16:44 GMT)
Tired legs for Japan
Japan seem to be running out of gas in defence. Spain’s Batlle and Garcia both had attempts saved by the Japanese keeper in the last couple of minutes.
85 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:42(16:42 GMT)
More changes for Spain
Del Castillo and Patri off, Garcia and Abelleira on.
82 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:40(16:40 GMT)
Canada go 2-1 up against New Zealand
Defending Olympic champions Canada have taken a 2-1 lead over New Zealand after a 79th-minute goal from Evelyne Viens!
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:39(16:39 GMT)
Time running out for Japan
Chiba comes on for Tanaka as Japan make another change. The 2012 silver medallists have just about 10 minutes to find the equaliser.
80 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:36(16:36 GMT)
Chance for Spain
Hernandez crosses the ball from the right side to set up one of the Spain forwards in the box, but Japan’s keeper bends forward to collect it first.
Spain are not sitting back, they want more goals!
77 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:34(16:34 GMT)
GOAL! Spain go 2-1 up
There it is – Spain have found the second goal!
Caldentey carried the ball on the left side and played a beautiful one-two with Bonmati as she entered the box before slotting it home from close range.
74 mins: Spain 2-1 Japan
Caldentey makes it 2-1 to Spain [Stephane Mahe/Reuters] Advertisement - 25 Jul 2024 - 16:30(16:30 GMT)
Japan’s sturdy defence
Japan have resorted to a five-player defence to contain this dangerous Spanish attack. And to their credit, they have done so well to keep the score 1-1.
Only 20 minutes to go in this exciting contest!
70 mins: Spain 1-1 Japan
- 25 Jul 2024 - 16:27(16:27 GMT)
Spain and Japan make subs
Japan’s Shimizu is down on the ground and receiving medical attention after possibly hurting her knee while doing her defensive duties.
She is taken off the field on a stretcher and will be replaced by Takahashi.
Spain have also made a change, bringing on Hermoso for Putellas.
68 mins: Spain 1-1 Japan
Risa Shimizu is stretchered off after sustaining an injury [Stephane Mahe/Reuters] - 25 Jul 2024 - 16:24(16:24 GMT)
Can Spain find the net?
Spain have had 73 percent possession in this half. Yes, you read that right! They aren’t allowing Japan to get on the ball at all, making chances from all three sides.
But the world champions need to find the net if they are to walk away with a win in Nantes.
65 mins: Spain 1-1 Japan
Spain vs Japan 2-1: Paris Olympics 2024 women’s football – as it happened
All the updates as Spain brushed aside Japan in the women’s football event at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Published On 25 Jul 2024
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Spain beat Japan 2-1 in a Group C women’s football match at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday, July 25:
- World champions Spain came back from a goal down to dominate Japan and secure a 2-1 victory on the first day of the women’s football event at La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes, France.
- La Roja fell behind to a stunning free kick by Aoba Fujino after 13 minutes, but soon regrouped and were level less than 10 minutes later through Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati. Japan posed little attacking threat in the second half. But they defended stubbornly as Spain dominated possession and created several chances, until Bonmati set up Mariona Caldentey in a neat one-two for the winning goal in the 74th minute of the Group C opener.
- Zambia face the United States at 9pm local time (19:00 GMT) in our second live game of the day.
- Unlike the men’s event, which is an under-23 competition and only allows for three overage players per squad, the women’s tournament has no age restrictions.
- Keep up to date: You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated Paris Olympics 2024 tournament page with all the news and features, as well as event build-up and LIVE text commentary on selected football, basketball, tennis and boxing fixtures. Stay informed with real-time updates from Paris 2024 with our Olympics events calendar, medal table and results pages.