Japan walloped Spain by four goals to nothing to seal passage into the round of 16 as winners of Group C, leaving the European nation to claim second spot.
Despite dominating for most part of the game, Spain were no match for their clinical and energetic Asian opponent, who stormed into an early lead through Hitana Miyazawa inside the opening 12 minute.
The lead was doubled one minute before the half hour mark as Riko Ueki scored her second goal of the ongoing tournament from a Miyazawa assist.
Ueki repaid the favour five minutes from the end of the normal time of the first half as she turned provider for Miyazawa to complete her brace and become the outright top scorer in the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup with four goals.
Substitute, Mina Tanaka scored eight minutes from time to complete the decimation of Jorge Vilda’s side, who succumb to second spot and finish as runner-up.
In the other game of the group, played for the culture, there was time for Zambia to make history as they scored their first ever goals and earn a first ever win in the FIFA Women’s World Cup by beating Costa Rica 3-1.
With both sides already eliminated, Zambia, who had suffered the bigger defeats took a two goal lead when Barbra Banda scored from the spot just after the half hour mark, adding to Lushomo Mweemba’s three minute opener.
The penalty goal is a milestone in the tournament as it is the 1000th goal scored in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Melissa Herrera halved the deficit for Costa Rica two minutes after the break but Racheal Kundananji scored three minutes into stoppage time to put the game to bed and help the Southern Africa nation end the tournament on a high.
Spain faces Switzerland in the round of 16 while Norway awaits Japan.
Hassan Afolabi
