Zambia 0-5 Japan: Hinata Miyazawa goals help 2011 champions thrash Zambia

Japan obtained their Fifa Girls’s World Cup marketing campaign off to an ideal begin with a dominant win in opposition to debutants Zambia.

Zambia goalkeeper Catherine Musonda obtained a second yellow card for conceding a late penalty in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Her alternative Eunice Sakala saved Riko Ueki’s penalty however was dominated to have come off her line and the Japan striker slotted dwelling the second effort.

Japan transfer prime of Group C, above Spain on objective distinction.

Futoshi Ikeda’s aspect’s late spot-kick means there was a penalty awarded in all seven video games of this 12 months’s match thus far – however solely three have been efficiently transformed.

Aoba Fujino was the Nadeshiko’s major menace early on, forcing Musonda right into a fingertip save with a close-range effort earlier than firing a 25-yard shot off the woodwork two minutes later.

Zambia have been handed the primary of a number of lifelines after 20 minutes when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to rule out Mina Tanaki’s objective for offside after the Japan ahead had reacted rapidly to the Copper Queens’ lack of ability to clear their strains from Endo’s in-swinging free-kick.

Japan lastly made their breakthrough simply earlier than the break when Miyazawa raced onto Fujino’s supply throughout the face of objective and slotted previous Musonda with a relaxed right-footed end.

VAR took centre stage once more in a busy begin to the second half, when Tanaki had her second objective of the sport dominated out for offside and Japan had a penalty revoked quickly after when Fujino – who was worn out within the field by Musonda – was judged to be narrowly offside within the build-up.

It was third time fortunate for Tanaki, nonetheless, as she slid in to achieve Endo’s cross and information it into the Zambia internet to double Japan’s lead within the fifty fifth minute.

Miyazawa then obtained her second shortly after with a simple tap-in and Endo added a fourth within the 71st minute.

Within the seventh minute of added time, Musonda rushed out and introduced down Ueki inside the realm, incomes herself a second yellow card and presenting Japan with a penalty.

Substitute keeper Sakala, making her worldwide debut, saved the primary effort however was deemed to have been off her line by VAR when she tipped the strike onto the bar and Ueki made no mistake along with her second try to attain her aspect’s fifth.