Japan all but guaranteed its spot in the knockout phase of the Women’s World Cup thanks to a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday.
Two quickfire goals just before the half hour, firstly from Hikaru Naomoto and then a second from Aoba Fujino two minutes later, were enough to give Japan its second win of the tournament.
It was nothing less than Japan deserved, who thoroughly dominated the game and looked good for its three points at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
With six points from its opening two games, Japan knows that a win by Spain against Zambia later on Wednesday will assure both teams’ spot in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup.
Japan will face Spain in its final Group C game on Monday, July 31, knowing that – should La Roja beat Zambia – the winner will face the runner up of Group A and the loser will face the top team of Group A.
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Swiss players, in red, defend their box during a match against Norway on July 25. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.
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Rain pours down during the Norway-Switzerland match.
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People in Indigenous dress perform during a welcome ceremony that was held before Norway-Switzerland.
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New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson attempts to head the ball past Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel during their match on July 25.
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Sarina Bolden scores on New Zealand keeper Victoria Esson.
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Philippines fans show their support during the team’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.
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Colombia’s Catalina Usme celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s first goal against South Korea on July 25. Colombia won 2-0.
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South Korea’s Cho So-hyun, bottom left, competes for the ball against Colombia’s Jorelyn Carabali and Carolina Arias.
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Colombia fans show their support in Sydney.
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Colombia’s Catalina Usme tries to control the ball in front of South Korea’s Kim Hye-ri.
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Colombia midfielder Manuela Vanegas receives a yellow card from referee Rebecca Welch.
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Brazil’s Ary Borges celebrates her third goal during the Panama. Her hat trick was the first of the tournament.
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Brazilian fans watch the match against Panama, which was held in Adelaide, Australia.
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Germany’s Alexandra Popp celebrates scoring a goal against Morocco.
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Germany fans celebrate as their team gets off to a great start.
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Morocco’s Fatima Tagnaout runs during the match against Germany.
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Italy’s Cristiana Girelli celebrates after scoring a late winner against Argentina on July 24. Italy won 1-0.
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Italian goalkeeper Francesca Durante makes a save during the match against Argentina.
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Argentina coach German Portanova reacts during the Italy match.
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Jamaican players celebrate on Sunday, July 23, after their 0-0 draw against France earned them their country’s first-ever point in the Women’s World Cup.
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Jamaica’s Atlanta Primus tugs the shirt of France’s Grace Geyoro.
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Jamaican goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer marshals her defense.
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Jamaica’s Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is sent off for a second bookable offense against France.
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France’s Estelle Cascarino, left, and Shaw battle for the ball.
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Portugal’s Ines Pereira dives in vain as the Netherlands’ Stefanie van der Gragt, not pictured, scores the only goal in the match on July 23.
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Van der Gragt, left, and Portugal’s Jessica Silva battle for possession.
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Silva signs autographs for fans after the match.
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Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt celebrates after scoring a late winner against South Africa on July 23. Sweden won 2-1.
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South Africa’s Hildah Magaia, who scored the opening goal, runs with the ball alongside Sweden’s Elin Rubensson.
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A South Africa fan shows support during the match.
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Danish players celebrate Amalie Vangsgaard’s late goal that gave them a 1-0 victory over China on Saturday, July 22.
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China fans show their support prior to their team’s opening match against Denmark.
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China’s Zhang Linyan competes for the ball with Denmark’s Pernille Harder.
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China head coach Shui Qingxia gestures during the match.
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England’s Alessia Russo and Haiti’s Tabita Joseph fight for the ball during the two sides’ opening game on July 22. England’s Lionesses, the reigning European champions, earned a scrappy 1-0 victory over the tournament debutants.
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England’s Georgia Stanway converts the winner against Haiti from the penalty spot.
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Nicolas Delépine, Haiti’s head coach, instructs his team during the match.
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Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus jumps to make one of many impressive saves against England.
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Japan’s Jun Endo celebrates with her bench after scoring her team’s fourth goal in a 5-0 win against Zambia on July 22.
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Japan’s Mina Tanaka battles with Zambia’s Agnes Musase.
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Aoba Fujino of Japan is brought down by Zambian goalkeeper Catherine Musonda, resulting in a penalty to Japan. It was later overturned due to offside.
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Japan supporters react following their team’s emphatic victory over Zambia.
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US forward Alex Morgan is surrounded by Vietnam defenders during their opening match on July 22. The United States, the two-time defending champs, won 3-0.
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Lindsey Horan, left, celebrates with US teammate Megan Rapinoe after Horan scored the third goal against Vietnam.
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Players collide in the box as Vietnam goalkeeper Trần Thị Kim Thanh looks to clear the ball away.
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US forward Sophia Smith dribbles the ball against Vietnam. She scored the first two goals of the match.
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Fans cheer during the US-Vietnam match in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Spain’s Esther González wins a header against Costa Rica’s Mariana Benavides on Friday, July 21. Spain won 3-0.
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González scores her team’s third goal against Costa Rica.
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A Māori welcoming ceremony is held prior to the Spain-Costa Rica match.
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Switzerland’s Seraina Piubel scores her team’s second goal during its 2-0 victory against the Philippines on July 21.
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The Philippines’ Katrina Guillou takes a shot against Switzerland’s Gaëlle Thalmann. The goal was disallowed.
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A Philippines fan enjoys the pre-match atmosphere. This was the country’s Women’s World Cup debut.
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Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan punches the ball clear during a 0-0 draw against Nigeria on July 21.
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Nigeria’s Uchenna Kanu takes a selfie with fans after the Canada match.
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Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie clears the ball after saving a penalty by Canada’s Christine Sinclair.
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Australia’s Steph Catley, third from left, celebrates scoring her team’s only goal against Ireland on Thursday, June 20. Australia won 1-0 in Sydney.
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Fans in Melbourne celebrate as they watch the match between Australia and Ireland.
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Ireland’s Heather Payne, left, tries to cross the ball past Australia’s Kyra Cooney-Cross. This was Ireland’s first-ever match in a Women’s World Cup.
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Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold makes a save.
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New Zealand’s Ria Percival and Katie Bowen, in black, compete for the ball with Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen on July 20. New Zealand won the opening match 1-0. It was the country’s first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup.
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Norway star Ada Hegerberg reacts after a missed chance against New Zealand.
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New Zealand’s CJ Bott, left, and Norway’s Mathilde Harviken vie for the ball.
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New Zealand fans react during the match against Norway, which was played in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Norway players huddle before the match against New Zealand.
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Fireworks explode during the tournament’s opening ceremony, which was held before the New Zealand-Norway match.
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Dancers perform during the opening ceremony at Auckland’s Eden Park.
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Performers dance during the opening ceremony.
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A performer is pictured during the opening ceremony.
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Benee and Mallrat perform “Do It Again,” the official song of this year’s Women’s World Cup, during the opening ceremony. Benee is from New Zealand and Mallrat is from Australia.
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Dancers take the field during the opening ceremony.
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Children hold flags during the opening ceremony.
Having comfortably beaten Zambia 5-0 in its opening game, Japan continued its impressive showing at the World Cup against Costa Rica.
Through its slick passing maneuvers and tactical rigidity, it looked a class above the world No. 36, creating chances at will.
The breakthrough finally came in the 25th minute, Naomoto emphatically punishing an ill-timed mistake from a Costa Rican defender, powering the ball into the bottom corner to open the scoring.
And just two minutes later, the Asian nation had its second of the game.
19-year-old forward Fujino, showing some tight dribbling skills and explosive speed to evade one defender, burst into the box before smashing the ball past Las Ticas goalkeeper Daniela Solera at her near post.
With its lead, Japan never let up, continuing to show its effective combination build up play and hard work off the ball as it stifled any Costa Rican attacks.
Although it will face much stiffer tests going forward, Japan has shown its credentials for competing for a second World Cup title.
As for Costa Rica, it will be eliminated from the World Cup if Spain avoids defeat against Zambia.
