Germany hold off Canada comeback

Célia Okoyino da Mbabi marked her international debut with a goal as Germany made a winning start to their FIFA Women's World Cup defence against Canada in front of record-breaking crowd in Berlin.

The Olympiastadion was a sell-out, with German chancellor Angela Merkel among the 73,680 in attendance and for 80 minutes the partisan crowd were treated to a dominant display. Kerstin Garefrekes broke the deadlock after ten minutes and when Okoyino da Mbabi doubled the advantage before half-time the hosts, seeking a third successive World Cup, were cruising.

Germany continued to dominate after the restart but failed to take their chances – the otherwise excellent Garefrekes particularly culpable – and eight minutes before the end their advantage was halved. Simone Laudehr conceded a free-kick on the edge of the German box and Canada captain Christine Sinclair, who had broken her nose earlier in the match, duly converted.

It was the first goal Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer had conceded in 622 minutes of World Cup action having gone through the 2007 edition unbreached. Thankfully for the hosts Canada failed to find another as the bumper crowd – the largest for a women's game in Europe – breathed a sigh of relief. Next up for Germany are Nigeria on Thursday, when France face Canada.