By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Forwards Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag both scored hat tricks as Germany crushed Ivory Coast 10-0 in their opening Women's World Cup Group B soccer match on Sunday, notching the second biggest win in tournament history.
Sasic netted three times in the first half against a hapless Ivory Coast side who had goalkeeper Dominique Thiamale to thank for preventing an even worse defeat. Mittag scored another two before half-time.
Top-ranked Germany, who won all 10 of their qualifying matches with a staggering 62-4 goal difference, came into the tournament as one of the favorites and showed why against a woeful Ivory Coast, who are ranked a lowly 67th.