The dream upset that Zambia were counting on did not come to fruition. A quick, sharp, and well-organised Japanese team ran rings around the inexperienced Zambians and showed the world that they are serious contenders.
The state of the game settled in very quickly - Japan would have the ball and Zambia would pray that they didn't put it in the back of the net. The entire first half consisted of a barrage of slick attacks from Japan, Tanaka would have a hat-trick to her name had she not been offside on two occasions.
If not for Zambia's goalkeeper, Musonda, Japan may well have been five in front at half time. This is even more troubling when you consider that the Copper Queens will be without their shot-stopper for their next game.
MORE: Women's World Cup 2023 Group C table, standings, schedule and fixtures
The second half continued with relentless charges at the Zambian backline, the only difference now was that Japan had started to take their chances. Tanaka and Miyazawa scored the second and third goals within six minutes of each other.
Endo added a fourth, supplying her brilliant performance with the goal it deserved, before Musonda's lapse in concentration saw her take out the legs of Ueki inside the area. After third-choice goalkeeper, Sakala, saved the penalty with her first touch in international football, VAR confirmed that she had left the goal line early, and the retake was placed carefully into the bottom corner by Ueki.
Japan will join Spain on three points, but will sit atop the Group C table due to the goal difference they earned tonight.
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
| 1. Japan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2. Spain | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 3. Costa Rica | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| 4. Zambia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -5 |
Zambia vs Japan final score
| First Half | Goal Scorers | |
| Zambia | 0 | |
| Japan | 5 | Miyazawa (43',61'), Tanaka (54'), Endo (70'), Ueki (111') |
Lineups
Zambia (4-4-2, right to left): 1-Musonda (GK) — 8-Belemu, 15-Musase, 3-Mweemba (Phiri 82'), 13-Tembo — 4-S.Banda, 12-Katongo, 14-Lungu (Lubandji 71'), 17-Kundananji — 11-B.Banda, 19-Mapepa (Chitundu 71'(Sakala 110')).
Japan (3-4-2-1, right to left): 1-Yamashita (GK) — 23-Ishikawa, 4-Kumagai, 3-Minami — 2-Shimizu, 14-Hasegawa, 10-Nagano, 13-Endo (Naomoto 75') — 15-Fujino (Sieke 75'), 7-Miyazawa (Chiba 93') — 11-Tanaka (Ueki 65').
Zambia vs Japan live updates, highlights and commentary from Women's World Cup
Full Time: Zambia 0-5 Japan
101st min. GOAL FOR JAPAN: Ueki converts her second take of the penalty, rolling the ball into the bottom-right corner to place a cherry atop Japan's dominant victory.
99th min.: PENALTY RETAKEN: Sakala, who saved the penalty onto the bar, has left the line and thus the penalty will be retaken.
96th min.: PENALTY FOR JAPAN: Musonda has brought down Ueki inside the box and receives a red card for the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity. Zambia will have to manage the next match with their third choice goalkeeper, Sakala.
93rd min.: SUB for Japan: Miyazawa leaves the field with a brace and is replaced by Chiba.
90th min.: There are to be seven minutes of stoppage time as this match fizzles out with Japan dominant victors.
82nd min.: SUB for Zambia: Mweemba, who has struggled with injury throughout the game, makes way for Phiri.
77th min.: Chance for Japan: The goal was gaping ahead of Ueki, but a last-ditch effort from Tembo denied Japan of a fifth.
75th min.: SUBS for Japan: Japan are rewarding perhaps their two best players for their efforts by giving them both an early rest. Endo and Fujino leave the pitch to be replaced by Naomoto and Sieke.
74th min.: Chance for Japan: Ueki was gifted a golden chance to open her World Cup account, but blazed the ball over the bar.
71st min.: SUBS for Zambia: Lungu and Mapepa make way for Lubandji and Chitundu
70th min.: GOAL FOR JAPAN: Hasegawa swept the ball wide for Endo who slots it into the net coolly. She absolutely deserves a goal to her name for her performance tonight.
65th min.: SUB for Japan: Goalscorer Tanaka makes way for the equally prolific Ueki.
61st min.: GOAL FOR JAPAN: Finally Japan are starting to put their chances away. Miyazawa was the woman on the spot for Japan when the ball was pulled back towards the penalty spot through the crowd. That will surely be game over for a struggling Zambia.
57th min.: Chance for Japan: Minami's beautiful long, diagonal ball played Fujino in behind perfectly, but despite all her time and space she sliced the ball over the bar. Japan's dominance continues, it could be five by now.
53rd min.: GOAL FOR JAPAN: This one does count! A gorgeous ball saw Endo in behind the Zambian defence before she squared the ball to an on-side Tanaka. At the third time of asking, she has doubled Japan's lead.
52nd min.: PENALTY OVERTURNED: Japan have no one to blame but themselves as another chance is overturned due to an offside offence. This time it was Fujino who made her run too early.
51st min.: PENALTY TO JAPAN: Fujino was too smart and too clever for Musonda who couldn't help but bring the Japanese midfielder down in the area. VAR are checking for offside.
49th min.: GOAL DISALLOWED: Mina Tanaka has once again had a goal ruled out for offside. She twisted and turned brilliantly before she placed the ball past Musonda, but all to no avail.
46th min.: Play is back underway. Japan will hope to continue to create the volume of chances they have done thus far, while Zambia desperately need to show some bravery if they want to leave a mark on this game.
Halftime: Zambia 0-1 Japan
43rd min.: GOAL FOR JAPAN! At long last Japan have made their breakthrough! A perfect, low cross is pounced upon by Miyazawa who rolled it beyond Musonda to give Japan a well-deserved lead.
Hinata Miyazawa scores Japan’s first goal of #FIFAWWC 2023! 👏 pic.twitter.com/caY6NOUIzW
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 22, 2023
39th min.: GREAT SAVE from Musonda: A huge deflection springs Musonda into action as she pulls off another fine save to keep Zambia in the match.
36th min.: Mweepa stays down: not for the first time in the match Zambia are forced to play with 10 players as a defender receives treatment on the touchline.
35th min.: Chance for Japan: Her lovely work with the ball and then a perfectly timed run opened up a chance for Fujino, whose shot was blocked wide for a corner.
29th min.: Chance for Japan.: Endo swivelled brilliantly past three Zambian defenders and put in a lovely cross for Tanaka, who for the third time spurned a chance for Japan to take a deserved lead.
23rd min.: GOAL DISALLOWED: Tanaka was found to be offside at the time of the initial free-kick. Zambia are just about hanging on here...
21st min.: GOAL FOR JAPAN?: A tempting and aggresive ball in from a wide free-kick fell kindly for Tanaka, who punched it into the net, but looked offside from the initial ball...
9th min.: Chance for Japan: A terrific long-range strike from Fujino clatters against the post and rolls away to safety. An opening goal looks like a matter of time for Japan.
7th min.: Chance for Japan: A very dangerous cross was tapped back into Fujino, who had time to turn and shoot before her effort was saved acrobatically by Musonda. Japan are dominating.
1st min.: Japan get us underway in Hamilton and start with a long ball from Yamashita.
Kickoff
5 minutes to kick-off
The teams are on the field and the anthems are ringing out, kick-off is just moments away in Hamilton.
15 minutes to kick-off
For Japan, all eyes should be focused on Saki Kumagai. The scorer of Japan's tournament-winning penalty in 2011 is still at the heart of their back three. Can her experience and composure keep out the energy and excitement of Zambia's attack?
Japan’s starting line up for their first #FIFAWWC match against Zambia. Players to watch from Japan include Manchester City’s Yui Hasegawa and the sole remaining player of the 2011 world champions Saki Kumagai pic.twitter.com/S4AHbVZj3o
— ShePlays Fantasy League (@sheplays_au) July 22, 2023
30 minutes to kick-off
The lineups are in!
Barbra Banda will lead the line in a front two with Mapepa.
Japan will setup with their favoured back three of Minami, Kumagai and Ishikawa.
1 hour to kick-off
As kick-off closes in, Japan will want recapture their past glory and start this World Cup campaign with a bang. Will it be their fresh blood to rejuvenate the hopes of the nation?
Can 19-year-old Maika Hamano help Japan lift another #FIFAWWC trophy? 🇯🇵#BeyondGreatness | @jfa_nadeshiko
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 21, 2023
2 hours to kick-off
Japan are heavy favourites to kick start their Women's World Cup with a win against an inexperienced and now injury-riddled Zambia. How will the Copper Queens fare in their first ever Women's World Cup?
🇿🇲 @BarbraBanda11 and Zambia are gearing up for their #FIFAWWC debut. ⏳ #BeyondGreatness | @FAZFootball
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 21, 2023
Zambia vs Japan predicted lineups:
Here are the possible lineups both sides could field as they make a play to try and match Spain on three points from one game in Group C.
23 year-old captain and star-player, Barbra Banda, could well be the key to Zambia's hopes both tonight and throughout the tournament, she has scored 14 goals in 10 games for Zambia.
- Zambia projected lineup (4-3-3): Musonda (GK) – Belemu, Musase, Mweemba, Tembo – Lubandji, S. Banda, Katongo – Chitundu, Kundananji, B. Banda
For the Japanese, Manchester City star Yui Hasegawa is expected to start in central midfield, while captain Saki Kumagai anchors an experienced back three.
- Japan projected lineup (3-5-2): Yamashita (GK) – Miyake, Kumagai, Minami – Shimizu, Hasegawa, Naomoto, Nagano, Endo – Ueki, Tanaka
Zambia vs Japan TV channel, live stream
Here is where fans can watch the match worldwide:
| Country | Television | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Optus Sport | Optus Sport website/app |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport 1 | Sky Sport NOW |
| USA | FS1, Universo (Spanish) | Fubo, Peacock, Universo NOW, Telemundo Deportes site/app |
| Canada | TSN, RDS (French) | TSN+, RDS Direct (French) |
| UK | ITV 1, STV Scotland | ITVX, STV Player |
| Singapore | FIFA WWC CH01 | MeWatch |
| Hong Kong | — | — |
| Malaysia | — | — |
| India | DD Sports | Fancode |
