Spain come from behind to beat South Africa

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain's Lucia Garcia celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Phil Noble

LE HAVRE, France (Reuters) - Jennifer Hermoso netted two second-half penalties and substitute Lucia Garcia added a last-minute goal as Spain came from behind to beat South Africa 3-1 at the women’s World Cup on Saturday.

Hermoso tucked away spot-kicks in the 69th and 82nd minutes to give Spain a winning start to their Group B campaign after South Africa, in their maiden appearance at the finals, took a surprise first-half lead.

The first penalty came after a handball by South Africa captain Janine van Wyk and the second after follow through tackle by full back Nothando Vilakazi on Garcia which earned Vilakazi a second yellow card and a dismissal.

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain's Lucia Garcia scores their third goal REUTERS/Phil Noble

South Africa were on for a shock win after Thembi Kgatlana struck a powerful shot from the corner of the penalty area over the head of Spain goalkeeper Sandra Panos in the 25th minute.

The goal came after the South Africans had weathered Spain’s early dominance with desperate defending and then began to look threatening on the counter-attack.

African Women’s Footballer of the Year Kgatlana could have made it 2-0 but fluffed a tap-in opportunity at the back post in the 57th minute, not long after Hermoso had come close to an equalizer by striking the crossbar.

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain's Lucia Garcia celebrates scoring their third goal with Marta Torrejon REUTERS/Phil Noble

But Spain’s superior fitness saw them dominate the last half hour and there were other chances for a more commanding scoreline.

Garcia’s goal came from a ball straight down the middle of the pitch as she outsprinted the defence.

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain's Lucia Garcia scores their third goal with team mates REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ed Osmond)

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain's Alexia Putellas in action with South Africa's Refiloe Jane REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 South Africa's Andile Dlamini in action REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 A South Africa fan inside the stadium REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 South Africa's Ode Fulutudilu in action with Spain's Maria Leon REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana (not pictured) scores their first goal as Spain's Sandra Panos attempts the save REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain's Jennifer Hermoso celebrates scoring their first goal from the penalty spot with Alexia Putellas REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 South Africa's Noko Matlou in action with Spain's Jennifer Hermoso REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain's Aitana Bonmati in action with South Africa's Busisiwe Ndimeni REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain's Lucia Garcia scores their third goal REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 South Africa's Nothando Vilakazi is shown a yellow card by referee Maria Carvajal REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain's Lucia Garcia celebrates scoring their third goal with Virginia Torrecilla REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group B - Spain v South Africa - Stade Oceane, Le Havre, France - June 8, 2019 Spain and South Africa players shake hands after the match REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo