Women’s World Cup: Japan on verge of qualification after win over Costa Rica

Japan have eased past Costa Rica at the Women’s World Cup to leave themselves on the brink of qualifying for the second round.

Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino scored in the space of three minutes to give Japan a 2-0 win.

Their progress will be confirmed if Spain avoid defeat against lowest-ranked Zambia later today.

Japan attacked from the start and the result was beyond doubt within the first half hour. Naomoto found the bottom corner after a defensive slip-up before Fujino beat Costa Rica goalkeeper Daniela Solera.

A series of second-half Solera saves kept the score down, with Riko Ueki coming closest before an intervention by Fabiola Villalobos.

Japan will now face Spain in a likely decider to become Group C winner. Zambia await for Costa Rica, but anything other than a Zambia win over Spain will see their exit confirmed after two matches.

Cover Photo: The flag of Japan” by futureatlas.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .