Japan’s Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino showcased their skills in a thrilling Women’s World Cup Group C soccer match against Costa Rica. Naomoto scored the team’s first goal in the 25th minute, dribbling past defenders and outstretching the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Fujino found the far left corner of the net, leaving Costa Rican defenders helpless. The Japanese team dominated with their precision in ball handling and passing.
With this victory, Japan secured their place in the knockout stage along with Spain, who defeated Zambia 5-0. Both teams have accumulated six points each and are tied for the top spot in Group C. The outcome of their upcoming match will determine the seeding.
The match took place in Dunedin, New Zealand, with a crowd of 6,992 spectators. While this was a significant decrease from the record ticket sales of over 1.5 million for the tournament, it was attributed to the smaller crowds in Dunedin compared to Auckland and Sydney.
Costa Rica displayed significant pressure throughout the match, but it was Japan’s superior skills that prevailed. The victory marks Japan’s fourth qualification to the knockout stage in their history. They won the tournament in 2011 and faced defeat against the United States in a rematch in 2015. Unfortunately, Costa Rica’s chances of advancing were eliminated with their second loss in the group stage.
Head coach Futoshi Ikeda commended the team’s energy and unity, particularly from first-time World Cup players. Their performance and the support from fans mean a lot to the team. Costa Rican midfielder Raquel Rodriguez also expressed gratitude for the fans’ support, acknowledging the criticism the team faces but finding solace in the encouragement from supporters.
Japan will face Spain in their next match in Wellington to determine the winner of Group C and the seeding for the knockout round. Japan will need to secure a victory to secure first place in the group. Costa Rica will play against Zambia in Hamilton on the same day.
Overall, Japan’s victory and qualification for the knockout stage solidify their position as a strong contender in the Women’s World Cup.
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