USA Women 3-1 Australia Women

Megan Rapinoe scored twice as the USA started their Women's World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Australia.

The number two-ranked team in the world are early leaders of Group D, following Sweden's 3-3 draw with Nigeria.

Rapinoe opened the scoring for the USA and despite Lisa De Vanna's equaliser for Australia, Christen Press made it 2-1. Rapinoe then put the game out of reach in Winnipeg.

In Group C Japan beat Switzerland 1-0, while Cameroon thrashed Ecuador 6-0.

Reigning champions Japan, who beat the USA in the 2011 final, secured three points through Aya Miyama's first-half penalty in Vancouver.

The USA are pre-tournament favourites in Canada, alongside Germany, who recorded an emphatic 10-0 win over Ivory Coast on Sunday night.

Jill Ellis's side have not been handed a straightforward group though, with this victory over 10th-ranked Australia coming before Friday night's game with fifth-best team in the world Sweden.

"We were a bit nervous. We couldn't play a lot worse at times,'' said Rapinoe, 29.

"But we settled in a bit and we were able to get some goals. Three points, that's most important, especially in this group that's shaping up a little weird."

The Swedes, third-place finishers in 2011, are also among the title contenders, but they made hard work of their opener.

They were 2-0 up after a Desire Oparanozie own goal and Nilla Fischer's strike, and even though Ngozi Okobi and Asisat Oshoala brought Nigeria level, Sweden led again through Linda Sembrant, only for Francisca Ordega to equalise late on.

A Gaelle Enganamouit hat-trick helped Cameroon easily see off Ecuador, with Madeleine Ngono Mani, Christine Manie and Gabrielle Onguene also on the scoresheet.