LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Japan defeated Costa Rica 2-0 thanks to two goals scored in the opening three minutes of play At Dunedin Stadium.
The victory all but guarantees the 2011 Women’s World Cup winners a place in the knockout stages.
The Nadeshiko replicated their fluid passing style from their initial 5-0 victory over Zambia, and if Spain defeats the African team in Wednesday’s later Group C game in Auckland, as predicted, they will advance to the round of 16 for the fourth consecutive World Cup.
Prior to the twin punch that took the stuffing out of the Central Americans, Japan was already well in the ascendancy, playing via Mina Tanaka in an advanced midfield role rather than playmaker Yui Hasegawa, as they did against Zambia.
Hikaru Naomoto, a left winger, scored the opening goal in the 25th minute by seizing on a mistake by Maria Paula Coto, racing into the box, and firing the ball past Daniela Solera’s diving save.
READ ALSO: WWC: Germany’s Striker Alex Popp Scores Twice As Germans Crush Morocco
Aoba Fujino, a defender-turning youngster, went straight for goal and beat Solera at her near post from a tight angle two minutes later.
Spain defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in their opening match, and after that, it appeared as though Japan would score a lot of goals in a short period of time.
Japan had 25 shots on goal, but they were unable to add to their total; this deficit could worry coach Futoshi Ikeda given the next stronger obstacles.
On Monday, Japan will play Spain in Wellington in a game that will almost definitely determine which of the two teams will finish first in the group, and Costa Rica will play Zambia in Hamilton at the same time as both teams continue their quest for their first World Cup victory.