The former champions Japan romped to a 5-0 victory over Zambia in their Women’s World Cup opener at Waikato Stadium on Saturday, outclassing the debutants with a slick display of pass-and-move football.
Hinata Miyazawa scored twice and her fellow forward Mina Tanaka found the net in the second half, after having two earlier efforts called back for offside by VAR. The winger Jun Endo added the fourth in the 71st minute, before the substitute Riko Ueki got the fifth from a penalty in stoppage time after the Zambia goalkeeper Catherine Musonda had been dismissed.
