The former champions Japan romped to a victory over Zambia of their Women’s World Cup opener at Waikato Stadium on Saturday, outclassing the debutants with a slick show. Hinata Miyazawa scored two times and ahead Mina Tanaka discovered the web in the second one part after having two previous efforts referred to as again for offside by way of VAR.
The winger Jun Endo added the fourth within the 71st minute and the synthetic Riko Ueki were given the 5th from a penalty in stoppage time after the Zambia goalkeeper, Catherine Musonda, were pushed aside.
Victors on the 2011 World Cup and runners-up in 2015, Japan coated up in an attacking 3-4-2-1 formation and seemed like a workforce on a venture. They had already drawn two fantastic saves from Musonda, hit the publish and had a Tanaka function dominated out sooner than Miyazawa struck within the forty third minute. Playmaker Yui Hasegawa despatched Aoba Fujino racing down the correct and the winger curled a fantastic go into the realm that Miyazawa lashed into the web.
Tanaka had every other function chalked off for offside within the forty ninth minute and VAR additionally overturned a penalty awarded to Japan a few mins later. But the Thai-born Tanaka in spite of everything were given a function that counted within the fifty fifth minute, sliding Endo’s go from the left into the correct nook of the web.
Tanaka additionally equipped the help on Miyazawa’s 2nd function within the 62nd minute, pulling the ball again from the byline to permit her teammate the most straightforward of finishes. The Nadeshiko had been discovering area at the back of the Zambia protection virtually at will within the closing 20 mins and a Hasegawa cross discovered Endo all on her personal with simplest Musonda to overcome for the fourth function 19 mins from time.
Ueki wanted two makes an attempt to transform the past due penalty that ended in Musonda being despatched off, the synthetic goalkeeper Eunice Sakala saving the primary strive however being penalized for coming off her line.
“Five-nil is good but getting the three points for the win was really satisfying,” stated the Japan trainer, Futoshi Ikeda. “Many of our squad were inspired by the 2011 Nadeshiko team when they were growing. We would like to take up the challenge again, to be the champions.”
The Zambia captain, Barbra Banda, who scored the winner when they beat the double World Cup winners Germany two weeks ago, struck an isolated figure up front and her side did not register a single shot at goal. “We haven’t played well this evening,” Zambia’s trainer, Bruce Mwape, stated. “It’s not the end of the world, I’m sure we can still come back and fight for a qualification spot.”
Japan sign up for Spain, who beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Wellington on Friday, to most sensible Group C. Their 2nd fit is towards Costa Rica in Dunedin on Wednesday.