JON SHALLARD in SYDNEY: Canada’s record-breaking Christine Sinclair must wait a little longer to claim yet another status symbol.

Sinclair, 40, is expected to become, at this FIFA Women’s World Cup, the first player to score at six such tournaments.

However a first opportunity to enter the history books bypassed her as Canada were held goalless by Nigeria in their Group B opener in Melbourne.

Olympic champions Canada were awarded a penalty early in the second half but Sinclair’s penalty was saved by keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and the Nigerians continued to hold out for the first goalless draw of the finals.

Nigeria resisted despite having Deborah Abiodun sent off in the closing stages for a reckless lunge at Ashley Lawrence.

Sinclair, who had been fouled for the spotkick, was playing in her 324th international. Brazil’s Marta and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo are the only other players to have scored goals at five World Cups.

The draw left cohosts Australia already top of Group B, two points clear of Canada and Nigeria.

Swiss roll

Switzerland took over the Group A lead on goal difference ahead of cohosts New Zealand after beating finals newcomers Philippines 2-0 in Dunedin.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Ramona Bachman was successful from the penalty spot late in the first half before Seraina Piubel extended the Swiss advantage in the 64th minute.

Spain, in Group C, put their confused and controversial preparations behind them by defeating Costa Rica by 3-0 in Wellington.

Last year, after a disappointing Euro campaign in England, 15 members of the national rebelled against the training methods of coach Jorge Vilda.

He included only three repentant rebels – Barcelona’s Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati and Ona Batlle – in his squad and was rewarded for his hard line with an easy win.

Bonmati scored Spain’s second goal after an opening own goal by Valeria del Campo with Esther Gonzalez adding a third, pouncing on a loose ball after Jennifer Hermoso had hit the bar. Olga Carmona also struck the bar while Hermoso missed a penalty.

Spain had the encouraging sight of FIFA’s women’s world best player Alexia Putellas appearing for the last 13 minutes.

Barcelona’s Putellas, who missed the Euro finals through injury, had pulled out of training as a precautionary measure on Monday.

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