BERLIN (AP) � Germany made a grand start to the Women's World Cup.
By Markus Schreiber, AP
Kerstin Gareferekes, right, and Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi, left, each scored to help Germany top Canada in their World Cup opener.
By Markus Schreiber, AP
Kerstin Gareferekes, right, and Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi, left, each scored to help Germany top Canada in their World Cup opener.
Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi led host nation Germany to a 2-1 win over Canada in the official opening game of the tournament Sunday after an impressive opening ceremony.
Christine Sinclair, who played most of the second half with a broken nose, scored for Canada with a free kick in the 82nd minute.
"The doctors told me her nose was broken, but she asked me to let her play," Canada coach Carolina Morace said. "I asked if it would be dangerous, but Christine is a smart player ? she knows what she can do and what she can't do."
It the first goal Germany has conceded in the World Cup finals since 2003.
The game took place after the opening ceremony in which a globe was "peeled" to reveal a mirrorball reflecting the fans in festive mood, before it released hundreds of helium footballs into the sky.
German President Christian Wulff, Chancellor Angela Merkel and FIFA President Sepp Blatter were among the capacity crowd of 73,680 at the Olympic stadium.
Earlier, Marie-Laure Delie scored the first goal of the three-week tournament to give France a 1-0 victory over Nigeria.
Two-time defending champion Germany attacked from the start, causing the Canadian defense trouble with the first corner in the second minute before Melanie Behringer had the first shot, dragging it well wide.
Sinclair should have scored for Canada against the run of play in the sixth, but she fired over with only Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer to beat.
At the other end, Erin McLeod pulled off a great save to deny Behringer, but there was little she could do to stop Garefrekes in the 10th when the midfielder rose to meet Babett Peter's deep cross.
A well-organized German defense restricted the visiting side to free kicks and corners before Diana Matheson shot just over in the 29th.
Okoyino Da Mbabi almost scored moments later for Germany, before Behringer fired over in the 40th.
Okoyino Da Mbabi ? who turns 23 on Monday ? got the goal her performance deserved in the 42nd when she raced onto Garefrekes' through ball and picked her spot, giving McLeod no chance.
Birgit Prinz was unable to add to her all-time World Cup tally of 14 goals, but received thunderous applause when she was taken off for Alexandra Popp in the 56th.
Popp grazed the crossbar with a long range effort in the 65th and unselfishly played Garefrekes through a minute later, only for the midfielder to hook the ball over from one meter (yard).
"It's not a nice feeling," said Garefrekes, the player of the game. "It's clear that we'll have to make more of our chances in the next games."
Canada looked short of ideas and it appeared only a matter of time before a dominant Germany added another, as the hosts continued to create chances.
However, Sinclair's free kick ended Germany's defensive record of not conceding a goal at the World Cup since the 2003 final, a game that Germany eventually won against Sweden.
"She's a fantastic player and she showed that again today. Her shooting is fantastic," Morace said.
"If she had scored the first chance we might have been talking about a different result, but I'm satisfied."
Canada, which has lost to Germany in all 10 meetings, pushed for an equalizer in an exciting finale but the hosts, backed by the crowd, held on to get their Group A campaign off to a winning start.
"The fans were great," Germany coach Silvia Neid said. "People had the feeling it could be getting close and they really got behind us. I thought it was a brilliant reaction."
Morace said she was happy with Canada's performance.
"Today we're more confident than yesterday," Morace said.
*****
Lineups:
Germany: Nadine Angerer, Babett Peter, Saskia Bartusiak, Annike Krahn, Linda Bresonik, Simone Laudehr, Kim Kulig, Melanie Behringer (Fatmire Bajramaj, 71), Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi (Inka Grings, 65), Kerstin Garefrekes, Birgit Prinz (Alexandra Popp, 56).
Canada: Erin McLeod, Marie-Eve Nault (Robyn Gayle, 46), Candace Chapman, Emily Zurrer, Rhian Wilkinson, Sophie Schmidt, Diana Matheson, Kaylyn Kyle (Kelly Parker, 46), Jonelle Filigno, Melissa Tancredi (Brittany Timko, 80), Christine Sinclair.
Referee: Jacqui Melksham, Australia.
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