Match ends, Spain 3, South Africa 1.
Jennifer Hermoso scored two penalties as Spain came from behind to beat World Cup debutants South Africa, who were reduced to 10 players.
Atletico Madrid's Hermoso converted both spot-kicks in the second half, awarded after a handball and Nothando Vilakazi's late challenge, for which she received a second yellow card.
Spain were the better side and Lucia Garcia added a cool third late on.
Thembi Kgatlana had given South Africa a shock lead with a chipped finish.
Kgatlana should have put South Africa 2-0 ahead but her tame effort at the far post was pushed away by Spain goalkeeper Sandra Panos.
The result means they are now without a victory in any of their last 12 games and are bottom of Group B.
Spain are top courtesy of better goal difference than two-time winners Germany, who edged past China 1-0 in their opening game.
Jorge Vilda's side claimed their first victory at the tournament, having failed to win any of their games at the 2015 event, but it did not go to plan early on after Kgatlana's surprise strike in the first half.
The Spaniards regathered themselves in the second period, Garcia looping a shot against the crossbar, Maria Leon curling a free-kick narrowly over and Marta Corredera seeing a scooped shot pushed away by Andile Dlamini.
But Hermoso did manage to keep her cool from the penalty spot, before Garcia went round Dlamini to slot in with a minute remaining.
Hermoso spot on - the stats
- Jennifer Hermoso is the first player to score twice from the penalty spot in a Women's World Cup match.
- Spain's three goals were the first they have ever scored in the second half of a World Cup match.
- South Africa's Nothando Vilakazi received the first red card of the tournament.
- South Africa failed to manage any attempt on or off target after the 57th minute.
- Thembi Kgatlana put South Africa ahead with their first attempt on target at a World Cup.
- Spain had the most attempts (25) and most on target (12) of any side in the opening 3 games of this World Cup and their possession of 72% was also the highest.
- Cameroon remain the only African side to have won their debut game at the World Cup, that win at the 2015 tournament.
Line-ups
Spain
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Paños
- 8Torrejón
- 4Paredes
- 16León Cebrián
- 7CorrederaBooked at 90mins
- 11PutellasSubstituted forGarcíaat 73'minutes
- 14Torrecilla
- 6LosadaSubstituted forBonmatíat 45'minutes
- 19SampedroSubstituted forGarcíaat 45'minutes
- 10Hermoso
- 9Caldentey Oliver
Substitutes
- 1Gallardo Núñez
- 2Jiménez Delgado
- 3Ouahabi
- 5Andrés
- 12Guijarro Gutiérrez
- 15Meseguer
- 17García
- 18Bonmatí
- 20Pereira
- 21Falcón
- 22García
- 23Quiñones Goikoetxea
South Africa
Formation 4-4-2
- 16Dlamini
- 2Ramalepe
- 5van WykBooked at 69mins
- 4Matlou
- 3VilakaziBooked at 82mins
- 9MthandiSubstituted forSeoposenweat 56'minutes
- 19BiyanaBooked at 77mins
- 15Jane
- 10MotlhaloSubstituted forNdimeniat 52'minutes
- 8FulutudiluSubstituted forSmedaat 77'minutes
- 11Kgatlana
Substitutes
- 1Mpuru
- 6Makhabane
- 7Dhlamini
- 12Seoposenwe
- 13Mbane
- 14Makhubela
- 17Smeda
- 18Gamede
- 20Swart
- 21Ndimeni
- 22Mulaudzi
- 23Holweni
- Referee:
- María Carvajal
- Attendance:
- 12,044
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home73%
- Away27%
- Shots
- Home27
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home12
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Spain 3, South Africa 1.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Leandra Smeda (South Africa) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Marta Corredera (Spain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Marta Corredera (Spain).
Post update
Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Nahikari García (Spain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Mariona with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Jermaine Seoposenwe.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Lucía García (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jenni Hermoso.
Goal!
Goal! Spain 3, South Africa 1. Lucía García (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Virginia Torrecilla with a through ball.
Post update
Attempt missed. Irene Paredes (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marta Torrejón with a headed pass following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Refiloe Jane.
Post update
Foul by Marta Corredera (Spain).
Post update
Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Spain 2, South Africa 1. Jenni Hermoso (Spain) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Nothando Vilakazi (South Africa) for a bad foul.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match (Spain). VAR checking.
Post update
VAR: Penalty Kick. Referee decision on field cancelled.
Post update
Penalty Spain. Lucía García draws a foul in the penalty area.