Japan’s gamers rejoice on the finish of the the Women’s World Cup Group C soccer match in opposition to Spain in Wellington, New Zealand, on July 31, 2023.| Photo Credit: AP

Hinata Miyazawa scored twice and arrange one other as Japan surprised Spain 4-0 on the Women's World Cup on Monday to arrange a conflict with Norway within the knockout stage.

The Japanese delivered a lesson in medical counter-attacking and led 3-0 at half-time to challenge a World Cup warning in opposition to one of many title favourites.

The 2011 champions Japan topped the group to play one other former winner in Norway whereas Spain will face Switzerland within the final 16.

Miyazawa's brace took her to 4 targets for the match whereas Riko Ueki and Mina Tanaka bagged the others for a massively spectacular Japan.

Boasting a bunch of European membership stars, Spain dominated possession in entrance of a crowd of 20,957 in Wellington.

But they did not create a single clear probability as Japan soaked up stress and broke with tempo, with deadly impact.

It was a tactical masterclass from Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda, whose workforce denied area 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 mentioned.

"Once we recovered the ball, we tried to attack to the maximum at speed."

Japan's three first-half makes an attempt resulted in three blistering targets as their speedy entrance line took benefit of a disorganised Spanish defence lacking injured captain Ivana Andres.

It was Japan's first win in 5 makes an attempt over Spain.

Their 11 targets is probably the most by any workforce on the match whereas they're one among 4 sides but to concede a purpose.

Miyazawa can be the match's main scorer, though she was denied an opportunity so as to add to her 4 targets when changed at halftime.

A beaming Miyazawa mentioned main the race for the golden boot was a shock 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 mentioned.

With each groups having already certified after coasting previous pool opponents Zambia and Costa Rica, sixth-ranked Spain had been thought-about the favourites to prime the group.

Only needing a draw to take action, the Europeans managed the ball for lengthy durations however they'd few solutions when their opponents broke with velocity.

Spain coach Jorge Vilda conceded he'd been out-thought tactically.

"As the head coach I'm responsible for this defeat," he mentioned.

"Yes I was surprised, they were exerting a lot of pressure.

"We needed to break this low block that they'd however we weren't capable of get previous their strains to assault... and little by little they began scoring targets.

"We have not seen the best Spanish team yet and I'm convinced that against Switzerland the team will react positively."

The opener got here within the twelfth minute when Miyazawa outpaced the defence to achieve Jun Endo's curling move from midway earlier than slotting low previous Misa Rodriguez.

Miyazawa turned supplier within the twenty ninth minute, driving ahead earlier than discovering Ueki, whose shot took an enormous deflection and snuck inside the highest nook.

Another lightning fast counter gave Miyazawa area and the striker blasted powerfully previous Rodriguez 5 minutes earlier than the interval.

Substitute Tanaka's sensational 82nd minute purpose got here after a scorching solo run from the touchline that turned the defence inside out.

Ikeda has high quality at his disposal, having made 5 modifications to his facet who beat Costa Rica, together with the number of forwards Miyazawa and Ueki over in-form Tanaka and Aoba Fujino.dgi/pst