Unbelievable Victory: Japan Thrashes Debutants Zambia with an Incredible Five Goals

Japan, the former champions, secured a resounding 5-0 victory over Zambia in their Women's World Cup debut at Waikato Stadium on Saturday. They effortlessly outplayed the African newcomers with their flawless execution of passing and movement. Hinata Miyazawa contributed two goals, while Mina Tanaka added another in the second half, despite having two goals disallowed earlier due to offside, as determined by VAR.

Winger Jun Endo scored the fourth goal in the 71st minute, while substitute Riko Ueki secured the fifth goal from a penalty during stoppage time after Zambia goalkeeper Catherine Musonda was shown two yellow cards and dismissed.

With a lineup in an aggressive 3-5-1 formation, Japan, champions of the 2011 World Cup and runners-up in 2015, appeared to be a focused and determined team right from the beginning.

Prior to Miyazawa's goal in the 43rd minute, they had already managed to elicit two exceptional saves from Musonda, struck the post, and had a Tanaka goal disallowed. Playmaker Yui Hasegawa skillfully sent Aoba Fujino sprinting along the right flank, where the winger expertly curved a stunning cross into the penalty area. Miyazawa swiftly seized the opportunity and forcefully drove the ball into the back of the net.

In the 49th minute, Tanaka had yet another goal disallowed for being offside, and shortly after, VAR overturned a penalty that was initially given to Japan. However, in the 55th minute, Tanaka, the Thai-born striker, managed to score a valid goal by skillfully putting Endo's cross from the left side into the right corner of the net.

In the 62nd minute, Tanaka provided the assist for Miyazawa's second goal by pulling the ball back from the byline, enabling her teammate to score with ease.

During the last 20 minutes, the Nadeshiko consistently found gaps in the Zambian defense. In the 71st minute, Hasegawa's pass found Endo completely unmarked, giving her the opportunity to easily beat Musonda and score the team's fourth goal.

Ueki required two tries to successfully convert the late penalty that resulted in Musonda's dismissal. The substitute goalkeeper, Eunice Sakala, initially saved the first attempt but was penalized for encroaching.

Zambia's captain, Barbra Banda, who had scored the decisive goal in their victory over the twice World Cup champions Germany two weeks earlier, appeared isolated in the forward position. Unfortunately, the African team failed to register a single shot on goal.

Japan join Spain, who beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Wellington on Friday, at the top of Group C ahead of their second match of the tournament against the Central Americans in Dunedin on Wednesday