MONTERREY, Mexico — Japan moved one step nearer to reaching the knockout levels of the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time after pummeling Tunisia 4-0 in Group F.
Japan’s 4 targets have been essentially the most the Samurai Blue had ever scored in a World Cup recreation, as Japan comfortably dismantled a Tunisia aspect that grew to become the primary to ever hearth its coach after the opening recreation.
Ayase Ueda scored twice, together with Daichi Kamada and Junya Itō to place Japan degree with the Netherlands on 4 factors. The Dutch are presently on prime the group as a consequence of having scored yet another objective than Japan throughout its two matches.
The loss for Tunisia means it’s eradicated from the match. Japan are assured a minimum of third within the group, which could possibly be sufficient to advance to the knockout levels.
Tunisia appointed two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner Hervé Renard to attempt to rescue the Eagles of Carthage after its humiliating 5-1 loss to Sweden, however the North African nation couldn’t include Japan’s speedy assault nor create any clear possibilities of their very own.
Kamada opened the scoring within the fourth minute, the quickest in Japan’s World Cup historical past. The Crystal Palace midfielder was completely positioned for Keito Nakamura’s cross and barely needed to transfer to faucet in his second objective of the match.
Within the thirty first minute, Ayase Ueda obtained the ball within the midfield and drove towards the Tunisia field. When Ueda opted to not cross to a couple advancing runners, any likelihood of a objective appeared misplaced — however the 27-year-old fired an angled shot from exterior the field which flew into the left nook of the objective to make it 2-0.
The Feyenoord striker had a formidable membership season with Feyenoord, scoring 24 targets within the Eredivisie to earn the league’s prime scorer award.
Within the 69th minute, Junya Itō slotted a 3rd objective for Japan after a Ueda’s flick put Itō in a one-on-one with Tunisia’s goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen, which he completed calmly.
Ueda’s masterful looping header within the 83rd minute, his second of the evening, capped off a formidable evening for the Samurai Blue.
Japan, who haven’t misplaced to a European opponent in 90 minutes since 2019, will play towards Sweden in Dallas on Thursday. Tunisia will play the Netherlands in Kansas Metropolis on the similar time.
