Fifa Women’s World Cup: Japan rout Spain in 4-0 statement win; Zambia leave with first victory
- Hinata Miyazawa scores twice and Japan leave group stage without having conceded a goal
- Zambia beat Costa Rica 3-1 to seal first win ever at a World Cup
Hinata Miyazawa scored another brace as ruthless Japan beat Spain 4-0 on Monday to set up a mouth-watering last-16 clash of former champions with Norway at the women’s World Cup.
Miyazawa took her tally to a tournament-leading four when she opened the scoring on the counter-attack in the 12th minute, and she then fired the third into the top corner five minutes before half-time in Wellington. She had also scored twice against Zambia.
Riko Ueki was on target in-between, when, set up by Miyazawa, her shot deflected off Irene Paredes and looped in over goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez. Mina Tanaka curled a stunning 82nd-minute fourth into the top left corner after cutting inside from the right.
It was a demonstration of intent by the 2011 champions who had only 23 per cent possession but found the target on all three first-half attempts although they were outnumbered by Spain defenders on each occasion.
Japan topped Group C with a maximum nine points and 11-0 goals, and Spain were second with six points after conceding for the first time in the tournament.
The Iberians will take on Switzerland in the last 16 on Saturday in Auckland, looking for a first win in the knockout stages. Japan’s game is the same day in Wellington.
Debutants Zambia finished third in the group by beating Costa Rica 3-1 in Hamilton in a duel of already eliminated teams, scoring their first goals of the tournament.
Lushomo Mweemba in the third minute and Barbra Banda’s 31st-minute penalty put the Africans 2-0 up at the break. Melissa Herrera was on target right after the restart for Costa Rica, before Racheal Kundananji wrapped up matters in stoppage time.
