Ary Borges scored a hat-trick on her Women’s World Cup debut to help Brazil thrash debutants Panama 4-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium on Monday and get their campaign off to a winning start.

The result takes Brazil top of Group F, after France were held to a 0-0 draw by Jamaica on Sunday. Brazil, whose best finish at the global showpiece was runners-up in 2007, have now won all nine of their opening Women’s World Cup matches. “We’re happy, the first game is always difficult. Four goals, and we played quite well,” Brazil coach Pia Sundhage said. “I think Borges is happy as well, scoring a hat-trick, she played well.”

The tone was set for Panama in the first minute when Brazil’s Adriana raced through and stabbed a shot at goalkeeper Yenith Bailey, before Debinha and Antonia blazed attempts over the bar within the opening six minutes of the match.

The South American heavyweights continued to launch waves of attacks on Panama’s backline as they pressed for an opener, which arrived in the 19th minute when Debinha floated in a cross that was headed home by an unmarked Borges at the back post.

Borges netted her second of the match 20 minutes later as she poked in a rebound after having a header saved by Bailey.

The Brazilians turned on the style in the second half as Borges set up Bia Zaneratto with a backheel flick for the third in the 48th minute to finish off a well-worked team goal.

Borges put the icing on the cake in the 70th when she got on the end of a cross from substitute Geyse to become the first Brazilian to score a hat-trick on their Women’s World Cup debut.

Forgettable debut

Talismanic captain Alexandra Popp scored a brace as Germany launched their bid for a third title with a 6-0 demolition of debutants Morocco.

In the tournament’s greatest mismatch to date, veteran Popp led from the front, heading in two first-half strikes before Klara Buehl, Lea Schueller and two own goals blew out the score after the break in front of 27,256 at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. The Germans’ cake-walk put them top of Group H on three points.

Seven months after the Moroccan men’s fairy-tale run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar, the Atlas Lionesses became the first Arab team to take the field at the women’s showpiece.

Super sub delivers

Substitute Cristiana Girelli’s late strike lifted Italy to a win in their Group G opener against Argentina in Auckland. Girelli replaced 16-year-old midfielder Giulia Dragoni in the 83rd minute and struck a header past goalkeeper Vanina Correa just four minutes later.

Argentina’s best chance came in the second minute when Mariana Larroquette’s bicycle kick sailed wide.

Today’s matches

Colombia vs Korea (7.30am)

NZ vs Philippines (11am)

Switzerland vs Norway (1.30pm) Live on FanCode, DD Sports