Sports

Japan Whips Spain for a Third Consecutive Shutout at the FIFA Women's World Cup

Manager Futoshi Ikeda's squad outscored its FIFA Women's World Cup opponents 11-0 in three Group C matches in New Zealand to reach the round of 16

Published

1 year ago

August 1, 2023

Ed Odeven

Japan's Hinata Miyazawa scores a 40th-minute goal against Spain in a 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group C match on July 31 in Wellington. (GETTY IMAGES/via KYODO)

Read the full story on SportsLook - Japan Whips Spain for a Third Consecutive Shutout at the FIFA Women's World Cup

Hinata Miyazawa delivered her second two-goal effort at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Monday, July 31, leading Nadeshiko Japan to a 4-0 triumph over Spain.

Miyazawa scored in the 12th and 40 minutes in Wellington, sandwiched around a Riko Ueki goal.

As a result, Japan, the 2011 Women's World Cup champion, took a commanding 3-0 lead into halftime against Spain in the teams' final Group C match at the 32-nation tournament.

Japan manager Futoshi Ikeda's squad, which entered the match having already qualified for the round of 16, clinched the top spot in Group C. (Watch highlights of the Japan-Spain match on the tournament website.)

World No 6 Spain entered its showdown with Japan with a pair of one-sided victories ― 3-0 over Costa Rica on July 21 and 5-0 over Zambia on July 26.

In previous matches in New Zealand, 11th-ranked Japan trounced Zambia 5-0 on July 22 and topped Costa Rica 2-0 on July 26.

Upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup Matches

Up next: Japan faces Group A runner-up Norway, the 2015 Women's World Cup champion, on Saturday, August 5 at 5 PM JST in Wellington.

Spain is set to meet Switzerland, Group A's top finisher, on the same day in Auckland.

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.