WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Japan scored 3 times from lightning breaks within the first half, as soon as within the second and defended resolutely to trounce Spain 4-0 on Monday and high Group C on the Women’s World Cup.
Hinata Miyazawa scored twice, Riko Ueki scored as soon as and each had been instrumental in one another’s targets as Japan switched swiftly from protection to counter-attack and scored from its solely three makes an attempt on purpose earlier than halftime.
Mina Tanaka got here off the bench to attain the final within the 82nd minute as Japan, with solely 22% of possession, turned on a counter-attacking grasp class.
Japan performed with a robust and chilly wind at its again within the first half and that added carry to lengthy balls ahead which helped catch the Spain protection in retreat.
Spain had an amazing majority of possession within the half; by the 25-minute mark it had loved 68% and had greater than 230 accomplished passes to Japan’s 43. But it was timid, reluctant to go ahead and performed largely across the center of the sphere, conserving the ball on the bottom within the face of the wind .
Japan was content material to defend within the depth and to attend for the second to unleash its counter-attack. It sprang the lure for the primary time within the twelfth; from simply contained in the Spain half and vast on the left Jun Endo despatched an extended, curling ball ahead which fell into the trail of Miyakawa, who neatly slipped her shot previous Misa Rodriguez within the Spanish purpose.
In the twenty third minute Moeka Minami cleared from the sting of the Japan space. Ueki nodded the ball again to Nagano who despatched Miyazawa away on the best. She handed throughout the purpose to Ueki, who took the ball on her left foot, propped to her proper foot and unleashed a shot that deflected from the foot of Irene Paredes and ballooned over Rodriguez.
Ueki celebrated the purpose a day after her twenty fourth birthday.
In the fortieth minute it was Ueki’s flip to ship for Miyazawa. She broke incisively on the left, handed throughout to the best because the Spain protection, backpedaling, tried to regroup and Miyazawa completed clinically together with her left foot.
Each purpose fell into the identical sample and every was executed with the identical precision. Spain had few possibilities earlier than halftime, maybe its finest was Jennifer Hermoso’s header from Ona Batlle’s cross.
Tanaka’s purpose was an impressive solo effort. She beat Rocio Galvez close to midway, eluded Batlle and Paredes after which drove the ball powerfully into the highest left nook. Japan’s 4 targets got here from solely 5 makes an attempt.
Both groups had already clinched locations within the spherical of 16, Japan for the fourth World Cup in succession, Spain for the second. Both had crushed Zambia 5-0 and Spain had the higher purpose differential after a 3-0 win over Costa Rica. A draw would have been sufficient to see Spain end atop a bunch for the primary time in its historical past.
But Spain has struggled towards Asian groups in World Cup matches, shedding to South Korea in 2015 and drawing with China in 2019.
Japan now will play Group A runner-up Norway on Saturday within the spherical of 16 whereas Spain will play Group A winner Switzerland on the identical day.
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