Three goals in a flurry of six first half minutes proved decisive as Spain’s domination bore fruit to make a confident, winning start to their World Cup campaign.

An own goal from Valeria del Campo followed quickly by a fine Aitana Bonmati strike and an Esther Rodriguez close-range finish was enough for Spain to see off a courageous Costa Rican team.

The headlines in team news were that star players, Alexia Putellas and Raquel Rodriguez respectively, had been named only as substitutes as both teams commenced their World Cups.

Spain started strongly, confident in possession as they monopolised the ball, yet their first opportunity went wide from the boot of Aitana Bonmati.

Ten minutes in and Esther Gonzalez attacked a cross with an audacious backheel attempt that spun just wide of the far post.

Costa Rica then demonstrated their own attacking threat as from the goal kick, Melissa Herrera found herself running through on goal, unopposed but with Maria Rodriguez standing tall in goal, Herrera poked her shot too far left.

For all their tiki-taka style of play, it was from a set piece that Spain next nearly scored from, captain Ivana Andres on target with her header which was matched by a flying save by Daniela Solera.

Just past the twenty-minute mark and Spain’s incessant pressure bore fruit.

First, Bonmati created the breakthrough, a wonderful, flicked pass finding Jennifer Hermoso in space, her cross from the left was a good one, deep into the corridor of uncertainty where it was poked home by the unfortunate Costa Rican defender, Valeria del Campo.

Like buses, a second strike then came along shortly afterwards.  This time Bonmati turned scorer as she received the ball on the edge of the box and let fly with a left-footed curler which soared superbly past a stranded Solera into the corner.

With their confidence now firmly up, Esther Gonzalez saw her header saved by Solera but moments later she beat the goalkeeper as she reacted first to a rebound from Hermoso’s shot which came off the crossbar but landed kindly for Gonzalez to turn in.

After half an hour, Spain had a golden chance to make it four when they won a soft penalty for a foul on Olga Carmona.  Up stepped Hermoso but she saw her spot kick well saved by Solera, keeping it at 3-0.

Forty minutes in and Costa Rica nearly pounced on casual control from Rodriguez as Gloriana Villalobas ferociously pressed and made the keeper sweat on her clearance.

Gonzalez headed high again but Spain went in at half time, three goals to the good.

Five minutes into the half and a fourth nearly did arrive as Carmona was played in on the left of a rapid counterattack, her shot clipping the crossbar on its way over.

Solera stood tall again moments later to deny Carmona when she drove a fierce volley accurately in on goal, the keeper pulling out another fine save.

Costa Rica won their first corner after the hour mark and although nothing came of it, it underlined a significant second half improvement as Spain struggled to break them down as openly as they had in the first forty-five minutes.

Sixteen-year-old Sheika Scott entered the fray for Amelia Valverde’s side, but a starter nearly made the next moment of magic, Carmona, wanting a goal, struck well, but narrowly high, from range.

Jorge Vilda introduced Putellas from the bench for the final twelve minutes and she showed her class, going close to a goal only for Solera to smother the shot. 

It doesn’t get any easier for Costa Rica as next they are up against 2011 World Cup champions, Japan, in Dunedin Stadium.

Spain meanwhile travel to Auckland to face Zambia next, with both matches on Wednesday morning and both vital to these side’s hopes for the tournament.