Women´s World Cup wrap: Germany make winning start

Germany began their Women’s World Cup title defence with a strong 2-1 win over Canada in Group A on Sunday.

The world champions, who are hosting the tournament, dominated most of the encounter having 24 shots on goal to just six, but were forced into a nervous last eight minutes after Canada pulled a goal back at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

It only took the Germans 10 minutes to open the scoring after a poor piece of goalkeeping.

Defender Babett Peter put in a cross from the left and forward Kerstin Garefrekes headed home after Canada shot-stopper Erin McLeod was caught out after coming to collect and then changing her mind.

The hosts went 2-0 up three minutes before the interval through Celia Okoyino da Mbabi.

The 22-year-old was played onside after a long pass from Garefrekes and she stroked the ball home under the advancing McLeod.

Second-half substitute Alexandra Popp went close to sealing the points on 65 minutes but her left-footed effort struck the crossbar.

Popp turned provider a minute later and Garefrekes should have ended the contest, only to side-foot her effort over the bar from six yards with an empty net to place into.

And Canada would force them into a nervous final few moments when captain Christine Sinclair produced an early contender for goal of the tournament.

Canada won a free kick just outside the box and Sinclair stepped up to curl home a stunning free-kick into the top right-hand corner.

But they could not find an equaliser as Germany held on for a deserved three points.

In the earlier game, France produced a dominant display on the way to a 1-0 win over Nigeria.

Marie-Laure Delie struck the match-winner in the 56th minute, sweeping home from close range after a cut back from Eugenie Le Sommer was deflected into her path by Louisa Necib.

Nigeria are winless in their last eight games at the tournament, while France won for the first time since the 2003 edition in the United States of America.