Japan on Wednesday at the Forsyth Barr Stadium crushed Costa Rica 2-0 in group C to be the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.
Two quick goals first from Drawa Reds of Japan and 29 year old Hikaru Naomoto, who took in the 25th minute advantage of a slip from Right Full back of Costa Rica, Maria Cuto to drive home a powerful shot that Goalkeeper Daniela Solera could not control.
Then 19 year old Aoba Fujino of WE League Club of Tokyo scored a montage goal in the 27th minute after selling dummies to (a football slang for dribbling) Costa Rica defenders and goalkeeper Solera was caught with only one foot on the ground.
The Japanese effort is the first successive clean slate (not conceding goals in a match) in nine appearances. Japan has 7 goals for and no goal against.
Costa Rica will now have to pray for a soccer miracle as Nigeria saw in Russia in 1989 tagged Darman Miracle where Nigeria came from 0-4 down to still win the match and the prayer is for Zambia to beat Spain in the next match at 0830 hours. If Spain wins, both Costa Rica and Zambia will go home.
Japan has comfortably propped herself up with 6 points from her two wins waiting for the Round of 16 matches.
I report a funny incident that could be described as a comedy of errors in the 15th minute when Naomoto tipped the ball in and goalkeeper Solera got her palm into it only for Shimizu and Fujino to fall over themselves in an attempt to score.
Costa Rica the lowest ranked team in this tournament played the same pattern, 3-4-3 with Japan whose 5-0 drubbing of Zambia is their second biggest win in the women’s finals having whipped Argentina 6-0 in 2003. It is awesome and a show of squad stability that Japan could be very impressive against Zambia despite only four chances at goal.
Japan and Costa Rica met once on 9th April 2017 with Japan victorious by 3-0.
In the last four matches of Japan before the competition, Japan defeated Canada 3-0 on 22nd February 2023; on 7th April 2023 Japan hacked Portugal 2-1; Japan lost 0-1 to Denmark on 11th April 2023 and on 14th July 2023 Japan thrashed Panama 5-0.
Costa Rica had on 29th June 2023 lost 0-4 to Venezuela; an unknown team called Centro Cante Sports slammed Costa Rica 2-1; on 3rd July 2023 Costa Rica bashed Haiti 2-0; Bayana Bayana of South Africa defeated the country 2-0 on 15th July 2023 and on 21st July 2023 and on 21st July 2023 at this world cup tournament, Spain humbled Costa Rica 3-0.
Japan with nickname Nadeshiko is making her 9th appearance and were champions in 2011 at Germany and Silver Medalists at Canada 2015.
Costa Rica is in their second appearances. The team has never gone beyond the group stage. The team has a stunning defeat record like Nigeria losing thrice by 0-8 to Brazil on 22nd June 2000; to USA at Louisville on25th June 2000 and again to USA at Pittsburgh USA on 16th August 2015.
Spain had spanked Costa Rica in the group opener 3-0 and is currently second on the table by goals aggregate. Zambia lost 0-5 to Japan in the second match of the group.
The second round matches of Group C will be on Wednesday 26th July when Spain will play Zambia and Japan will tackle Costa Rica. The last group matches will be played on Monday 31st July with Japan versus Spain and Costa Rica versus Zambia.
We are waiting for the following matches, at 0830 hours it will be the turn of Spain and Zambia also in the second round matches of Group C. Canada will slug it out with Ireland at 1300 hours at the NIB stadium in a group B second round match where Nigeria is to earn her first win.
On Thursday 27th July. USA will face a formidable side in Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium in group E at 0200 hours. Portugal in the same group will try the Vietnam War at 0830 hour at FMG Stadium, Waikato. Nigeria will battle for her first win against hosts Australia at the Suncorp Stadium in a group B match at 1100 hours.
By Eniola Olatunji
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