MATCH REPORT: Japan rout Tunisia 4-0 in World Cup’s 1000th match
Ayase Ueda scored twice and had an assist to help Japan to a 4-0 Group F victory on Saturday night in Monterrey, Mexico, to eliminate Tunisia and spoil the debut of their coach Herve Renard.
Tunisia were eliminated while Japan and Netherlands each have four points and a plus-4 goal differential.
Sweden have three points heading into the final group matches when Japan plays Sweden and Netherlands faces Tunisia.
Daichi Kamada opened the scoring in the 4th minute, the fastest goal ever for the Japanese in a World Cup match. The previous mark was Shinji Kagawa’s score against Colombia in the sixth minute of their 2018 match.
Ueda made it 2-0 in the 31st minute, Junya Ito scored in the 69th and Ueda’s header in the 83rd made Japan the first Asian team to score four goals in the World Cup.
A look at Group F after today’s games
Any of the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden could still top Group F.
FULL-TIME: Tunisia 0 – Japan 4
That was a very impressive display from Japan, who scored early, often threatened and took their chances with some excellent goals. They never looked under any threat from Tunisia; the African side was very disappointing. Ueda was brilliant, with two goals and an assist, but there was a lot to like about Japan’s performance across the park.
Japan move to second in Group F, with their final match against Sweden. A draw will be enough for the Samurai Blue to qualify for the round of 32 in second place. Tunisia join Haiti and Turkey in being eliminated from the tournament before the final group game, having already lost 5-1 to Sweden. They next play the Netherlands, who scored five against the Swedes today. Yikes.
Tunisia 0-4 Japan, full-time
In pictures: Japan’s history-making fourth goal
GOAL! Ueda has his second as Japan run riot
Ueda has his second goal, to go along with his assist, as Japan make it four.
Sano floats in a cross and finds Ueda somehow unmarked in the box, and he manages to direct his looping header into the Tunisian goal. I don’t think there will be any surprises on who is named player of the match. That is also Ueda’s last involvement in the game as he’s substituted with seven minutes of regular time to play.
Japan become the first Asian team to score four goals in a World Cup game, while Tunisia are going home and have been very disappointing here.
Tunisia 0-Japan 4, 83 minutes
In pictures: Japan all but seal the win with a third
GOAL! Ito makes it three
A third for Japan and it is Ueda who is involved again. He takes a pass from Tomiyasu and flicks it forward to Junya Ito, who splits the defence and manages to hold off the Tunisian defender before knocking it in the goal.
That’s another very nice goal from Japan. And should be enough to give them the three points here.
Tunisia 0-Japan 3, 69 minutes
Tunisia show more fight
Tunisia are showing more fight in the second half and Herve Renard is very animated on the sideline. He’s just arrived at this World Cup and won’t want it to be all over after just 90 minutes. Japan, though, are absorbing everything that is being thrown at them.
Japan are still looking lively, if not as dangerous as in the first 45 minutes. Ueda has been everywhere. Perhaps they’ve already got one eye on their final group game against Sweden?
Tunisia 0-2 Japan, 64 minutes
Half-time: Japan lead 2-0
Tunisia will be thankful they are only down 2-0 after that first 45 minutes, after a blistering first half from Japan, who scored two and went close on a number of other occasions.
It was Tunisia who had the game’s first chance, in the third minute, when Hannibal Mejbri fired a shot over the crossbar. But a minute later Kamada scored for Japan and it then became very much a one-sided half, as the Samurai Blue continually went in behind their opponent’s defence. Ueda’s strike from distance doubled the lead in the 31st minute.
Aside from Hannibal’s early attempt, Tunisia did not threaten Japan, but they will have to chase the game in the second half. They need a point to be any chance of keeping their knockout-stage hopes alive.
Tunisia 0-2 Japan, half-time
In pictures: Ueda grabs Japan’s second goal
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