Jennifer Hermoso and Alba Redondo each scored twice on Wednesday to help Spain advance to the knockout stage of the Fifa Women’s World Cup with a 5-0 romp over Zambia here.
Teresa Abelleira opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Hermoso and Redondo converted their respective braces for Spain.
Hermoso scored in the 13th and 70th minutes, and Redondo tallied in the 69th and 85th minutes.
Misa Rodriguez made two saves for Spain, which will battle Japan on Monday for the top spot in Group C.
Eunice Sakala finished with eight saves for Zambia, which will clash with Costa Rica on Monday for third place.
In another match, Hikaru Naomoto scored in the 25th minute and Aoba Fujino tallied two minutes later to help Japan punch its ticket to the knockout round in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Naomoto took advantage of a slip from Maria Paula Coto and unleashed a shot that sailed past goalkeeper Daniela Solera.
Fujino converted from a sharp angle just two minutes later for Japan.
Ayaka Yamashita made two saves for Japan, while Solera finished with 10 stops for Costa Rica.
Victory for Canada
Adriana Leon scored in the 53rd minute to lift the Canadians to a 2-1 victory in a Group B clash in Perth.
Canada also benefited from an own goal in first-half stoppage time to forge a 1-1 tie after Katie McCabe scored off a corner kick in the fourth minute for Ireland.
Kailen Sheridan made five saves for Canada, while Courtney Brosnan finished with six stops for Ireland.
‘Ronaldo’ vs ‘Messi’
Argentina forward Yamila Rodriguez has defended herself for having a tattoo of Cristiano Ronaldo inked on her left shin, saying that favouring the Portugal star is not a sign she does not appreciate their World Cup-winning talisman Lionel Messi.
The 25-year-old said she had been receiving criticism on social media for thetattoo of Ronaldo, Messi’s great rival.
“Please stop, I’m not having a good time. At what point did I say that I’m anti-Messi?” she wrote on Instagram.
“I’m not having a bad time because of you (fans) but for the atrocities that are said, without mercy.
“Can’t you have an idol or a player you like?” Reuters
Today’s matches
US vs Netherlands (6.30am)
Portugal vs Vietnam (1pm)
Australia vs Nigeria (3.30pm) All timings in IST. Live on FanCode, DD Sports