Defending champions Canada defeated New Zealand 2-1 in their Paris Olympics opening game on Thursday (July 25) overshadowed by a spying scandal that has engulfed the women’s tournament.

Cloe Lacasse and Evelyne Viens scored on a night that might have been a routine group win for Canada before it was thrust into the global spotlight due to a scandal that saw manager Bev Priestman sit out Thursday’s game and two staff members sent home amid allegations of drone use at two New Zealand practices.

Assistant Andy Spence acted as coach, while Priestman, who had removed herself from the game after New Zealand’s complaint, watched it from the team hotel.

The full fall-out from the scandal is yet to be known, as Canada Soccer has launched an independent external review into the matter while global soccer’s governing body FIFA has begun disciplinary proceedings.

Joseph Lombardi, one of the staff members sent home, was handed an eight-month suspended jail term and his material was confiscated, a French court said.

Elsewhere, in Group C, Spain playmaker Aitana Bonmati scored once and created another goal as the world champions came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in Nantes.

Olympic debutants Spain recovered from going behind to an early goal to avenge a 4-0 group stage loss to Japan in last year’s World Cup which they went on to win.

Germany made a strong start to the tournament in Marseille with a 3-0 win over Australia in the opening Group B match, thanks to goals from Marina Hegering, Lea Schueller and Jule Brand.

In the second match in Group C Brazil earned a 1-0 win over Nigeria in Bordeaux. Gabi Nunes scored in the 37th minute following a pass from Brazil’s all-time leading scorer Marta, who is playing at her sixth Olympics.

In women’s handball, defending champions France edged Hungary 31-28 and South Korea stunned Germany 23-22.

(REUTERS)