Hinata Miyazawa scored twice as former champions Japan smashed Women’s World Cup newcomers Zambia 5-0 in a rampant start to their campaign on Saturday.
The free-flowing display was enough to prompt Japan coach
Futoshi Ikeda to talk about his team challenging for the title in Australia and
New Zealand.
Japan, who won the World Cup in 2011, were a class above the
77th-ranked Zambia, creating a slew of chances with their sharp movement and
passing in a performance that will have the tournament heavyweights on alert.
Three of the goals came through sweeping upfield movements
as Japan scored more than twice in a World Cup game for the first time since
the triumphant tournament in Germany 12 years ago.
“We have these players who have grown up seeing Japan become
world champions,” he said.
“We would like to take up the challenge again to be
champions.
Midfielder Miyazawa bagged her first goal midway through the
first half from an Aoba Fujino assist to put Japan a goal up at the break in
front of 16,111 in Hamilton.
The scoreline didn’t reflect Japan’s first-half dominance
but they capitalised as Zambia’s defensive pluck crumbled after the interval.
Mina Tanaka doubled the lead from Jun Endo’s cross, bringing
some relief to the forward, who found the net twice earlier in the match only
to have both strikes ruled out by belated offside rulings.
Tanaka turned provider for Miyazawa’s second and Endo
drilled home the fourth.
Substitute Riko Ueki scored the final goal from the penalty
spot after she was brought down by goalkeeper Catherine Musonda in the final
minute of stoppage time.
It resulted in a second yellow card for Musonda, whose
replacement Eunice Sakala made a spectacular save from the spot, but was
correctly ruled to have moved too early.
Ueki made no mistake with her second attempt as Japan moved
to the top of Group C with Spain, who beat Costa Rica 3-0 on Friday.
A youthful Zambian side entered the tournament with high
hopes after beating Germany in their final warmup game.
However, the lowest-ranked side at the 32-team tournament
didn’t create a single clear chance, capping a miserable week in which key
attacking midfielder Grace Chanda was ruled out of the tournament with illness.
Coach Bruce Mwape tried to remain upbeat, even with his side
next facing a daunting clash with Spain on Wednesday.
“It’s not the end of the world, we still have a chance, we
can go back and plan for the two remaining games,” he said.
“I’m sure we can still come back and fight for a position in
the next round.
“We’re not looking at excuses — we have just not played well
this evening.”
AFP
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