Japan 4-0 Spain: Hinata Miyazawa scores twice in impressive win

Japan showed wherefore they are superior contenders astatine the Women's World Cup by hammering Spain to decorativeness apical of Group C and publication a last-16 showdown with Norway.

The attacking midfielder enactment Japan up with a calm decorativeness aft Spain's defence had been exposed, earlier Riko Uek doubled the pb with a deflected decorativeness which looped into the net.

Miyazawa, who scored 2 successful Japan's opening radical crippled against Zambia, made it 3-0 by firing crossed extremity and into the nett successful beforehand of a assemblage of 20,957.

Substitute Mina Tanaka added to Spain's symptom with a 4th extremity successful the 83rd minute.

Japan started the 3rd and last radical crippled trailing Spain connected extremity quality aft some teams had made 100% winning starts successful New Zealand.

Japan volition enactment successful Wellington, wherever they volition conscionable Norway, the 1995 satellite champions, connected Saturday astatine 09:00 BST.

Group runners-up Spain caput to Auckland, wherever they volition play Switzerland astatine Eden Park connected Saturday astatine 06:00 BST.

• Reaction and investigation arsenic Japan bushed Spain

Formidable Japan nutrient masterclass

Japan made 5 changes to the broadside that overcame Costa Rica successful Dunedin 5 days earlier yet ne'er looked backmost aft taking power connected a blustery evening successful New Zealand's capital.

After wins against Zambia and Costa Rica, this was the nighttime they truly showed the satellite they mean concern with a almighty show which included immoderate exceptional finishing against a Spain broadside precocious successful assurance aft back-to-back wins.

Miyazawa, who besides laid connected the assistance for Ueki's goal, looks a existent fistful and volition beryllium important if the two-time finalists are to scope the quarter-finals for the archetypal clip since 2015.

Japan fans, who turned retired successful numbers successful Wellington with immoderate dressed successful colourful masks and nationalist costume, witnessed a masterclass from their team.

Japan had won lone 1 of their past 5 World Cup games earlier this edition.

But they look formidable aft a 3rd successive triumph successful New Zealand.

Poor Spain 2nd best

Spain were a mediocre 2nd champion but indispensable enactment this dense decision rapidly down them with a lucifer against Switzerland to travel astatine the weekend.

They were 1 of the archetypal teams successful Europe to suffice for this tourney aft an impeccable qualifying run wherever they finished 8 points wide astatine the apical of the array and did not concede a extremity successful 8 games.

Spain had not conceded a extremity successful 180 minutes earlier this lucifer but were out-fought and out-classed by a classy Japan.

On a nighttime of fewer positives for Jorge Vilda's side, Alexia Putellas got different 62 minutes connected the pitch.

The two-time Ballon d'Or victor is moving her mode backmost to afloat fittingness pursuing a superior genu wounded sustained earlier Euro 2022 which ruled her retired for astir a year.