Japan thrash La Roja 4-0 in final group game; Oly champs Canada lose to Oz
Spain players wear a dejected look after Japan’s third goal yesterday. Pics/Getty Images
Hinata Miyazawa scored twice and set up another as Japan stunned Spain 4-0 at the Women’s World Cup on Monday to set up a clash with Norway in the knockout stage.
The Japanese delivered a lesson in clinical counter-attacking and led 3-0 at half-time to issue a World Cup warning against one of the title favourites. The 2011 champions Japan topped the group to play another former winner in Norway while Spain will face Switzerland in the last 16.
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Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa celebrates a goal against Spain
Miyazawa’s brace took her to four goals for the tournament while Riko Ueki and Mina Tanaka bagged the others for a hugely impressive Japan.
Boasting a host of European club stars, Spain dominated possession in front of a crowd of 20,957 in Wellington. But they didn’t create a single clear chance as Japan soaked up pressure and broke with pace, with lethal effect.
A tactical masterclass
It was a tactical masterclass from Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda, whose team denied space and time to Barcelona stars Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati. “The Spanish team, with that kind of offence, we decided to respond with a compact defence,” Ikeda said. “Once we recovered the ball, we tried to attack to the maximum at speed.”
Also Read: Women's World Cup: NZ aim to avoid slip-up against Switzerland in their bid for knockouts
A beaming Miyazawa said leading the race for the golden boot was a surprise and a great pleasure. “I never imagined it. All of the goals are because of the other players giving me the right passes. So it’s everybody’s goal, not just me,” she said.
Raso scores brace
Meanwhile, co-hosts Australia surged into the Women’s World Cup Last 16 on Monday with Hayley Raso scoring twice in a 4-0 battering of Canada.
Olympic champions Canada were dumped out at the hands of a fired-up Australian team who knew they had to win in Melbourne to progress. They did it in style, their big
victory putting them through as Group B winners.
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