Quickfire goals from Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino set Japan on the path to a second Group C victory over Costa Rica in Dunedin this morning, the result likely putting Japan through to the knockout rounds whilst eliminating Costa Rica.

Japan were looking to put one foot in the last sixteen with victory here and Mina Tanaka planted a seventh minute header wide as they started strongly.

Costa Rican, goalkeeper, Daniela Solera, who impressed against Spain, did well to save Japan captain’s Saki Kumagai emphatic header.

Their clearest chance came and went in the fifteenth minute when Hikaru Naomoto saw Solera save her shot, the loose ball coming to Risa Shimizu only to see teammate Tanaka accidentally block her shot.

Yet that proved foreshadowing ten minutes later when Naomoto found herself in the same space down the left and this time she beat Solera with a sweet strike.

Moments later, it was two with teenager Aoba Fujino sending a fiery strike in which beat Solera at the near post as Costa Rica’s morale, again, took two quick and heavy blows.

That takes Japan’s goal scorers tally to six different players, ominous for any upcoming opponents given three of four goal scorers against Zambia began on the bench this morning, the depth of their squad quality on show for all to see.

Despite Costa Rica being able to call upon top scorer, Raquel Rodriguez, midway through the second half, it was Japan who looked likelier to add a third as Solera saved from Tanaka.

Japan’s fitness and quality of press kept Amelia Valverde’s Costa Rica firmly penned in as Japan’s World Cup experience showed, managing the match effectively to, unofficially, seal a knockout place.

Both sides now must refresh and prepare for their final group C games on Monday, Japan set for a mouthwatering clash with Spain. 

Costa Rica will aim to collect a first World Cup win against tournament debutants, Zambia, and will hope Rodriguez can get a full runout to fully showcase their quality.