Adriana inspires Spain success

Spain played themselves back into contention in Group B by beating France 3-2 at the Frisch-auf-stadion in Wurzen.

All to play for
The Spaniards were beaten 2-1 by the Netherlands in their opening game on Friday, and their coach, Ignacio Quereda, had encouraged them to forget the loss and regroup against France. They did just that, Adriana scoring twice and Anne-Laure Casseleux putting through her own net, meaning France were left pointless despite goals from Alexandra Guine and Elise Bussaglia. Both sides can still qualify on Tuesday, when Spain meet the leaders Norway and France face the Dutch.

Dream start
Spain got off to a dream start when Adriana, their tall striker, coolly headed a deep, looping cross high into Sarah Bouhaddi's goal after just three minutes. Soon after the ever-dangerous Saray whipped in a superb cross which troubled the French defence but not Bouhaddi, who plucked it out of the air to avert the danger. If Saray and Sonia were shining for Spain, then Amélie Coquet and Lilas Traïkia were the players most likely to bring France level.

Second chance
However, it was Spain who found the second goal in the 26th minute. Bouhaddi failed to get the required distance on a long back-pass and the ball fell to Adriana. The striker saw her first shot blocked by the keeper but made no mistake after it rebounded to her, rounding Bouhaddi and dribbling into an empty net. France pushed for the remainder of the half, but could not quite find the crucial pass to complement their neat approach play.

Own goal
France finally scored in the 57th minute when Guine pounced from close range. In the 65th minute Bussaglia - who scored a wonderful goal direct from a free-kick in the 2-2 draw with Norway - unleashed another piledriver from distance, this time saved by Lucia in the Spain goal. Then came the sucker punch, when in the 75th minute Casseleux tried to clear her lines in a crowded box but could only shoot the ball into her own net.

Back in the hunt
France continued to battle, and in the 80th minute Anne-Laure Perrot hit the bar with a rasping drive. Another super strike, again from Bussaglia, reduced arrears to 3-2 and set up a tense finale. Spain managed to hang on, though, and came closest to finding the sixth goal of the match when Maria-José deflty touched the ball into the path of Jade who could not capitalise. It did not matter, as the whistle soon blew and Spain were celebrating being back in the hunt.