Monterrey: Japan defeated Tunisia 4-0 in Group F on Saturday in the 1,000th match in World Cup history. The victory moved Japan one step closer to reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the fourth consecutive tournament.
Japan's four goals were the most the Samurai Blue had ever scored in a World Cup match, as they comfortably dismantled a Tunisia side that became the first team to dismiss its coach after the opening game of the tournament.
Ayase Ueda scored twice, while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito also found the net to put Japan level with the Netherlands on four points. The Dutch remain top of the group after scoring one more goal than Japan across their first two matches.
The defeat means Tunisia have been eliminated from the tournament. Japan are guaranteed at least a third-place finish in the group, which could be enough to secure a place in the knockout stages.
Tunisia appointed two-time Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Hervé Renard in an attempt to rescue the Eagles of Carthage following their humiliating 5-1 defeat to Sweden, but the North African side could not contain Japan's pace in attack or create any clear-cut chances of their own.
Kamada opened the scoring in the fourth minute, the fastest goal in Japan's World Cup history. The Crystal Palace midfielder was perfectly placed to meet Keito Nakamura's cross and only had to apply a simple finish for his second goal of the tournament.
In the 31st minute, Ueda collected the ball in midfield and drove towards the Tunisia penalty area. When he chose not to pass to several advancing teammates, any opportunity appeared to have gone, but the 27-year-old unleashed an angled strike from outside the box that flew into the left corner to make it 2-0.
The Feyenoord striker enjoyed an impressive club season, scoring 24 goals in the Eredivisie to claim the league's Golden Boot.
In the 69th minute, Junya Ito added a third goal for Japan after Ueda's flick sent him through one-on-one with Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen, and he finished calmly.
Ueda's superb looping header in the 83rd minute, his second goal of the night, capped an outstanding performance from the Samurai Blue.
Japan, who have not lost to a European opponent in 90 minutes since 2019, will face Sweden in Dallas on Thursday. Tunisia will play the Netherlands in Kansas City at the same time.
