MONTERREY: Japan recorded an emphatic 4-0 victory over Tunisia in the 1,000th match in World Cup history, moving to the verge of qualifying for the knockout stage while ending Tunisia’s campaign after a second consecutive Group F defeat.
Japan made a flying start, taking the lead in the fourth minute when Daichi Kamada converted Keito Nakamura’s low cross from close range. Ayase Ueda doubled the advantage in the 30th minute with a powerful strike into the far corner.
The Asian side maintained its dominance after halftime. Ueda turned provider for Japan’s third goal, setting up Junya Ito with a lofted pass, before scoring his second of the match with a header from a deep cross.
The four-goal performance made Japan the first Asian nation to score four times in a World Cup match.
The win lifted Japan to four points, level with the Netherlands, while Tunisia, playing its first match under new coach Herve Renard following a 5-1 defeat to Sweden, became the third team eliminated from the tournament after Haiti and Turkey.
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