FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Nadeshiko takes Group C bragging rights over Spain to round of 16

Japan's Mina Tanaka, left, celebrates after scoring her side's 4th goal during the Women's World Cup Group C soccer match between Japan and Spain in Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, July 31, 2023. (AP Photo/John Cowpland)

By Ed Emeanua

Japan have beaten Spain 4-0 at the Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand on Monday, to usurp Group C bragging rights and progresses to the round of 16 where they would now face Group A runners up, Norway.

Spain and Japan Women were yet to clash with each other in a World Cup game, setting the stage for a refreshing initial head-to-head recounter between them. In the second final match of the Group Costa Rica’s Las Ticas lost 1-3 to Shepolopolo of Zambia at the FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Spain, as Group C runners up will face Group A winners Switzerland in the round of 16, just as Zambia and Costa Rica must now depart New Zealand having been eliminated from the tournament.

Mina Tanaka celebrates with teammates after scoring Japan’s fourth goal of the game. Photograph: John Cowpland/AP

Spain's Claudia Zornoza and Rocio Galvez react after Japan's Mina Tanaka scored their fourth goal.

Spain’s Claudia Zornoza and Rocio Galvez look shellshocked. Photograph: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

Spain coach Jorge Vilda reacts as his team are behind against Japan. Photograph: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

Both Japan and Spain had already booked their knockout stage qualification from the Group ahead of their last Group game against each other, with the remaining impetus for competitiveness left for the pair being the bragging rights for the leadership.

For this game, Japan ran five changes, as against one for Spain. Hana Takahishi, Fuko Nagano, Jun Endo, Hinata Miyazawa and Riko Ueki took the place of Shiori Miyake, Yui Hasegawa, Hina Sugita, Aoba Fujino and Mina Tanaka. For Spain, Rocio Galvez replaced the injured Ivana Andres.

Spain starting XI: Misa; Batlle, Paredes, Rocio, Olga; Abelleira, Bonmati, Putellas; Paralluelo, Hermoso, Mariona.

Japan starting XI: Yamashita, Takahashi, Kumagai, Minami; Shimizu, Nagano, Hayashi, Endo; Naomoto, Ueki, Miyazawa.

Costa Rica starting XI: Solera, Fabiola Villalobos, Benavides, Campo; Coto, Gloriana Villalobos, Alvarado, Rodriguez; Herrera, Scott, Chinchilla.

Zambia starting XI: Musonda, Belemu, Musesa, Mweemba, Tembo; Susan Banda, Chanda, Katongo; Chitundu, Barbra Banda, Kundananji.

Fabiola Villalobos and her Costa Rica teammates appeal to referee Bouchra Karboubi before a VAR check does not give a penalty to Costa Rica in their final group game against Zambia.

Fabiola Villalobos and her Costa Rica teammates appeal to referee Bouchra Karboubi for a penalty. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Japan kicked off the game but it was Spain who took the initiative right from the blast of central referee Ekaterina Katja Koroleva of USA. Spain have started brilliantly. In yet again another spell of captivating football possession, in the 5th minute, Carmona drives a cross from the left that just eludes the stretching legs of Bonmati, who arrived a little late in the box.

Spain continued to enjoy total possession of the ball with Japan looking very comfortable in their defensive shape early on. In a moment of sporadic counter attacking display, Spain’s tenacity for scintillating possession counted for less as Japan scores the game’s first goal through sheer demonstration of efficiency and clinical finishing in the 12′.

Japan’s Riko Ueki celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal against Spain. Photograph: John Cowpland/AP

Just as it was clinical, the crafting of the goal itself was majestic, as Nadeshiko dealt Spain a major blow for their high line. Endo, on the left near the halfway line, found space to curl a piercing pass around the Spanish defense. It eluded Ueki couldn’t, but not Miyazawa, who emerged out of a mist from nowhere to slide a left-foot shot past Rodriguez in the 14′.

Now what did Spain do? Back to same plot of course. For another half an hour La Roja continued to dominate while Japan kept their shape. In yet another swift counter-attacking foray after Minami had cleared a forward pass on the edge of her own area, only moments later, Japan were 2-0 up.

The Copper Queens found the net in the 2nd minutes of the match, with Lushomo Mweemba scoring the Zambia’s first-ever Women’s World Cup goal.

Barbra Banda sends the Costa Rica keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot to double Zambia’s lead. Photograph: David Rowland/Reuters

Zambia’s Barbra Banda celebrates scoring their second goal against Costa Rica. — *Barbra Banda isn’t so calm now as she celebrates doubling Zambia’s lead. Photograph: David Rowland/Reuters*

Barbra Banda her Zambia teammates celebrate after her penalty doubled their lead against Costa Rica. — *She is soon joined by her Zambia teammates in the celebrations. Photograph: How Hwee Young/EPA*

The weaponized vapor of Ueki headed Minami’s clearance in Nagano’s path, who in turn cushioned a neat pass into the run of Miyazawa. She set Ueki free on the left side of the area for a one versus one against Paredes. Cutting inside on her right foot, Ueki hit a drive that deflected off Paredes and looped over Rodriguez. Japan’s second goal in the 29th minute through Riko Ueki was the clear expression of their superior masterplan.

For Spain, as if bereft of any other approach, they were yet to learn anything from the mistake of their high line against a nifty side like Nadeshiko.

After a couple of neat passing work to create space on the halfway line, Ueki ran at a Spain defense running in the direction of their back. She wisely waited for support to arrive from Miyazawa, then played an angled through ball to her teammate. Miyazawa knocked it into space with her left foot and lifted it emphatically over Rodriguez with her right. What a majestic finish for a fantastic team in the 40th minute of the tie.

At the same time at the Waikato Stadium, Zambia were waltzing to a 2-0 lead over Costa Rica in the game in which respect was the only thing on the line.

What a way to head it away from danger from Costa Rica's backline 🇨🇷 pic.twitter.com/XOHacvdSQA

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 31, 2023

Then Barbra Banda, the captain of the Zambian team drew the foul in the box to earn a penalty kick, which she then drilled into the net herself to double her side’s advantage. Her goal was also a record setter as it marked the 1,000th goal in Women’s World Cup history.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1685916605551693824

Both Zambia and Japan took their first half leads intact to the half-time break. In the second half, Spain continued their slow buildups while Japan maintained their resolute defensive formation. Though it must be said that La Roja had ample of opportunities to make the scoreline respectable in the second half, their lack of clinical approach in their finishing was their greatest undoing.

Costa Rica’s Melissa Herrera scores their first goal and gets them back in the game against Costa Rica.

Daphne Melissa Herrera Monge bundled the ball into the net in the 47th minute to score Costa Rica’s historic first ever goal of the Women’s World Cup.

In the 82′, Japan again presented her lethal counter-attacking style for the world to see. With just 22 per cent possession, five shots, and now four goals up, this is simply, the counter-attacking showcase for all ages. Substitute Mina Tanaka turned Galvez neatly on the right, ignored a lack lustered impediment from Batlle, applied Paredes as a shield and hammered the ball into the top side of the net with her left foot.

It was a captivating finish for the Asians against one of Europe’s finest side at the 2023 Women’s World Cup tournament. What a brilliance!

Then, at the Waikato, Herrera crosses in a lovely ball, Zambia’s goalkeeper Musonda gets a touch to it but her spill almost sees it in but Musesa is there to clear off the line. Zambia counter and of course it is Kundananji hitting in a 90+3′ goal to take Shepolopolo 3-1 ahead.