Japan have advanced to the second round of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after they overcame Costa Rica 2-0 at the Dunedin Stadium in New Zealand on Wednesday.
Hikaru Naomoto gave the Nadeshiko the lead when she beat Costa Rica goalkeeper Daniela Solera in the 25th minute after defender Maria Coto had slipped allowing her to pounce on the ball.
Two minutes later, Aoba Fujino increased Japan’s lead after she cut from the right hand side to slot it in past Solera. This was the first time the Japanese had two successive clean sheets in the World Cup.
