Switzerland got off to a strong start in Group A with a 2-0 victory over World Cup newcomers, the Philippines, in Dunedin.
Ramona Bachmann and Seraina Piubel scored on either side of the halftime break to secure the win for Inka Grings’ team.
The Swiss team made a triumphant return to the World Cup finals after missing the 2019 tournament, last participating in 2015.
With three points, they now share the top position in Group A with New Zealand, who defeated Norway 1-0. Switzerland’s next match in the group will be against Norway on Tuesday.
It’s worth noting that Alen Stajcic’s Philippines team has made history by becoming the country’s first team to qualify for a men’s or women’s World Cup finals.
And in the 16th minute, Guillou thought she had scored an historic goal when she latched on to a long ball, took it beyond goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann and fired in – but the strike was disallowed by the VAR.
Having survived that scare, Switzerland – ranked 26 places higher than their opponents at 20th in the world – registered a number of attempts on goal, with the best opportunity seeing Ana Maria Crnogorcevic shoot over from close range in the 37th minute.
Soon after, Coumba Sow went down in the Philippines box under a challenge from Jessika Cowart.
Following another VAR intervention, with referee Vincentia Amedome watching the incident back on the pitchside monitor, a penalty was awarded and Bachmann dispatched it in composed fashion past Olivia McDaniel.
The advantage was then doubled 19 minutes into the second half when McDaniel parried a Crnogorcevic shot and Sow follow-up but could not prevent Piubel firing in the loose ball.