Red-faced La Roja left stunned in 4-0 loss to faultless Japan in group stage clash

A textbook counter-attacking game from Japan shocked the girls in red; Maja Hitij/Getty Images

In a highly anticipated group stage match of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup between two sides heavily tipped to make it all the way to the finals, Japan unexpectedly showed Spain the ropes in a 4-0 hammering at the Wellington Regional Stadium in New Zealand. Goals came in flying and fast, with Hinata Miyazawa scoring another brace, while setting up a goal for Riko Ueki in the 29th minute. Mina Tanaka came off the bench to cap off a peerless performance from Nadeshiko Japan, with a wonderful solo goal in the 82nd minute.

With their places in the round of 16 already booked, this was billed to be an all-out, evenly matched main event between the leaders of Group C, battling solely for bragging rights. But even it very much was not; Spain with 78% of possession, nearly nine hundred passes made, Japan displaying lethal efficiency, converting 4 of their 5 shots on-target. 

"Japan planned their game," said Aitana Bonmati. "We are not proud of what we have given today on the field." Spain’s head coach Jorge Vilda outright claimed responsibility over his side's performance, saying how it is "normal for us to be angry, to have rage." 

On the other side, Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda was well satisfied with his side's counter-offensive approach. “I think we were quite effective.” He had good reasons to be chuffed with Japan’s efforts; Spain hadn't conceded a goal in their previous 544 minutes on a pitch. They conceded three within 45.

But it certainly looked much easier than it was, with Japan trying to settle in a solid defensive shape, allowing Spain with a decent sniff at goal in the 6th min, as Caldentey's long ball missed Bonmati right in front of the net. Japan held steadily, compressing their own half and waiting patiently to win the ball back. They would fire a warning shot, the first counter resulting in Endo winning a free kick. A few minutes later, Endo was on the break again down the left flank, with a beautiful curved pass finding Miyazawa who steamed past the exposed Spanish defence, her shot well beating Misa Rodriguez in the 12th minute to make it 1-0.

Miyazawa (in centre, blue) one-on-one with Rodriguez for the first goal; Catherine Ivill/ Getty Images

La Roja were clearly frustrated with a lack of ingenuity and sharpness in the final third, both in terms of buildup and finishing, as shortly after Jenni Hermoso missed out on a close-range chance, receiving Bonmati’s cut back in plenty of space. In a footballer's equivalent of a writer's block, Spain managed to rack up five times as many passes as Japan, but opportunities to really test Japan's near-perfect defence were rare. Paralluelo’s individual trickery would be in vain in the 29th minute, as Japan would soon win the ball back, with Miyazawa on a blistering run offloading the ball to Ueki, and her deflected shot headed straight to the top-left corner, sailing over Rodriguez and handing Japan their second goal.

Ueki’s (left) shot deflecting off Parades (right) for a second goal; Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Caught in a vicious cycle, Spain would fail to capitalise on an opportunity again, Hermoso's header tipping over the crossbar after Batlle's great delivery from the wings. Japan would remain unfazed under Spain's heightened pressure, catching them off-guard with another counter. Ueki and Miyazawa were at the crime scene again, this time the former being the supplier. Miyazawa would get only a touch in the box, managing to unleash a rocket of a shot aimed at the far post to complete her brace in the 41st minute. A shell shocked La Roja would make it through to halftime, resorting to a cynical foul courtesy of Olga Carmona.

Miyazawa (right) ended the tie within 45 minutes with her second goal; Jose Breton/Getty Images

Spain would attempt to iron out their lack of teeth in the next half, culminating in Batlle making her way into the box, her shot agonisingly well off the mark. They would manage to stop a counter-attack from Japan as well, not allowing Ueki to find space to take a shot at goal in the 51st minute. But soon it would settle into a slow stalemate, with Spain relentless in probing the Japanese defence for holes to exploit in an endless series of crosses and headers, but Yamashita would be left relatively untroubled for most of the game. 

But like in the first half, Spain crept closer and closer to a breakthrough, and were immediately pinned to the ground, as a throw-in to substitute Tanaka saw her snake her way around Galvez, before departing to Spain's box all by herself. Some stepovers were thrown in for good measure before a powerful shot was nestled into the top left corner in the 82nd minute. Rodriguez had no answers, neither did the Spanish defence, who had no option but to tactically foul Naomoto, leading the counter in the 90th minute, to save face. Gonzalez would be brought in to eke out a consolation goal, but her poor volley would mark the end of affairs in Wellington.

A piece of footballing magic saw Tanaka (right) cap off the night with a 4th goal; Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

In what was the first real test for either side, Japan have aced with flying colours, having outpaced, outplayed and out planned Spain. Three for three in the group stages makes it a repeat of their record in the 2015 World Cup, a dazzling run ended by the USA in the finals. But with a statement victory like this, the incumbent champions will be wary of a rematch, should the teams cross paths. For now, Japan would have to set their sights on their next opponents in Norway, who seem to have finally hit their stride in their final group stage game against the Philippines. Spain would look forwards to targeting and rectifying their issues in cracking open a quality defensive unit, while fixing their own, as they prepare for their round of 16 showdown against Switzerland.