Switzerland began their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over debutants the Philippines in Dunedin this morning.

Ramona Bachman's penalty on the stroke of half time opened the scoring for the Swiss before an intense dominant second half performance saw them create chances, before Seraina Piubel doubled their lead with a close-range effort in the 64th minute.

The result moves Switzerland to take top spot of Group A, above co-hosts New Zealand on goal difference.

Chances came and went early on, Jessika Cowart had a header for the Philippines Women in the opening minutes, but that effort went wide of the goal, while for Switzerland Géraldine Reuteler, had a right footed shot from outside the box that was too high to test the target.

It took until the quarter of an hour mark for the next real chance to arrive, Reuteler latched onto a great through ball but couldn't loft the ball over the advancing Philippines keeper, less than 60 seconds later however, Katrina Guillou thought she had opened the scoring for the Philippines, but her excellent finish was ruled out because of an offside by the striker in the buildup to the opportunity.

With 24 minutes gone, it was looking even between the sides, but the Swiss were looking dangerous, notably Reuteler who was having chances, she was posing the biggest threat for the Swiss, a slalom run through the Philippines rear guard brought a decent stop from Olivia McDaniel.

At the half hour mark, it was another close call for the Swiss as Ana Maria Crnogorcevicjust couldn’t reach a cross and McDaniel gathered for the Philippines, Crnogorcevic six minutes later, failed to add to her tally of 71 international goals with a close range effort that went just over the bar. A fantastic opportunity for the Swiss who were really beginning to take control of this clash.

Right on the stroke of half time, Coumba Sow drew a foul in the penalty area from Jessika Cowart, another game, another VAR check for a potential penalty, we've had a spot kick in each game so far, but only one has been converted, make that two, as Ramona Bachmann stood up and rolled it into the bottom corner for the lead.

Into the second half and Switzerland had been entirely dominant, as the Philippines struggled to get any time on the ball at all, a first chance coming on the hour mark, Bachmann not adding to her first half strike as her effort went comfortably over the bar.

Five minutes later the pressure counted and the Swiss doubled their lead, Seraina Piubel applying the finish to score her first competitive goal for the Swiss national side, but it took about four efforts to beat McDaniel in the Philippines goal.

Switzerland kept up the pressure and remained on the front foot, looking for their third goal but were unable to add to the tally, while the Philippines struggled to pull one back and make it a nervy end to the tie.