Two goals in three first-half minutes gave Japan a 2-0 win over Costa Rica at Dunedin Stadium on Wednesday to all but secure the 2011 champions a spot in the knockout rounds of the Women's World Cup.
2023 Women's World Cup
2-0
Match Report
The Nadeshiko reprised the effervescent passing game of their opening 5-0 win over Zambia and will progress to the last 16 for the fourth straight World Cup if Spain, as expected, beat the African side in Wednesday's later Group C game in Auckland.
Playing through Mina Tanaka in an advanced midfield role rather than playmaker Yui Hasegawa, as they had against Zambia, Japan were already well in the ascendancy before the double blow that knocked the stuffing out of the Central Americans.
Left winger Hikaru Naomoto struck first in the 25th minute, pouncing on a slip from Maria Paula Coto and storming into the area before stroking the ball into the net past the dive of goalkeeper Daniela Solera.
Two minutes later, teenager Aoba Fujino turned a defender on the right wing, ran directly at goal and beat Solera at her near post from a tight angle.
Costa Rica, who were beaten 3-0 by Spain in their opener, were barely able to land a blow on their opponents and it looked from then on only a matter of many goals Japan would rack up.
Despite having 25 attempts on goal, however, Japan were unable to add to their tally - a shortcoming that might concern coach Futoshi Ikeda with tougher challenges lying ahead.
Japan face Spain in Wellington on Monday in a match that will almost certainly decide which of the two sides top the group, while Costa Rica will play Zambia in Hamilton at the same time as both sides continue to seek their first World Cup win.
Line-ups
Japan XI: S. Kumagai, H. Naomoto, M. Tanaka, A. Yamashita, Y. Hasegawa, S. Miyake, R. Shimizu, H. Sugita, M. Minami, Hayashi Honoka, Aoba Fujino
Subs: Chika Hirao, H. Miyazawa, F. Nagano, Jun Endo, R. Ueki, K. Seike, H. Takahashi, Momoko Tanaka , Remina Chiba, Rion Ishikawa, Maika Hamano, Miyabi Moriya
Costa Rica XI: K. Alvarado, G. Guillén, M. Benavidez, C. Granados, M. Herrera, M. Coto, M. Elizondo, F. Villalobos, D. Solera, M. Salas, P. Chinchilla
Subs: P. Tapia, R. Rodriguez, C. Sanchez, G. Villalobos, E. Valenciano, M. Campos, V. del Campo, S. Varela, Catalina Estrada, Génesis Pérez, Sheika Scott, Alexandra Pinell