Sports
JAPAN HIT FOUR PAST TUNISIA TO SEAL DOMINANT WORLD CUP WIN
Japan produced a ruthless display to defeat Tunisia 4-0 in their FIFA World Cup Group F clash at Estadio Monterrey, with a commanding performance that confirmed their growing status in the tournament.
It was Japan’s first time scoring four goals in a World Cup match, as they made a flying start when Daichi Kamada bundled home in the fourth minute after Tunisia failed to deal with Keito Nakamura’s low cross.
The pressure never eased. Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen was forced into key saves, including denying Ayase Ueda on the line, but Japan’s dominance eventually told when Ueda finished calmly in the 31st minute to double the lead.
Tunisia offered little in response, with just a single touch in Japan’s penalty area before the first hydration break, as they struggled to cope with Japan’s control and movement.
The second half followed the same pattern. Junya Ito added the third after overpowering Mohamed Amine Ben Hmida, before Ueda made history by becoming the first Japanese player to score twice in a single World Cup match with a looping header for the fourth.
The result, in the 1000th World Cup match, extends Tunisia’s poor run to just one win in nine matches (D2, L6).
Japan, meanwhile, have now won six of the previous seven head-to-head meetings and will secure automatic qualification for the Round of 32 if they take at least a point against Sweden.