Spain 5-0 Zambia

Group B: Canada v Ireland — 10pm AEST

Japan all but booked their place in the Women’s World Cup last 16 as forwards Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino scored twice in three minutes in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica on Wednesday.

A sparse crowd of 6,992 spectators saw the match in Dunedin, the lowest attendance so far at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Japan’s passage into the knock-out stages from Group C will be confirmed later if Spain beat or draw with Zambia, who the Japanese hammered 5-0 in their opening game.

The 2011 world champions Japan sit top of the group with a perfect record of six points and have yet to concede a goal.

Spain will surely join them when they face Zambia, the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup, later Wednesday.

Costa Rica, well beaten 3-0 by Spain, were floored again by a devastating first-half spell from the Japanese who grabbed two rapid-fire goals.

Outclassed Costa Rica’s tournament is realistically already over. Substitute Gloriana Villalobos managed their one and only shot on target so far at this World Cup with nine minutes left.

Japan took the lead through Naomoto on 25 minutes and they made it 2-0 when they again sliced through Costa Rica’s shaky defence moments later.

The 19-year-old Fujino turned her marker, dribbled into the penalty area and powered her shot inside the near post.

The scoreline would have been much higher were it not for fine saves by Costa Rica goalkeeper Daniela Solera, who had another busy night between the posts but should have done better with both goals.

The shot-stopper was badly shaken with 25 minutes left after a mid-air collision with Japan replacement Riko Ueki when both players went for a cross.

With their final pool match against Spain still to come on Monday, Japan’s seven goals so far is a record for them in World Cup group stages.

ICY PRESSER CUT SHOR AMID SHOCK ALLEGATIONS

Bruce Mwape insisted he will not stand down before his press conference was cut short after questions were aimed at the Zambia head coach surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct.

It comes after the Zambia Football Association announced in September that it had referred an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse in the women’s game to FIFA.

It was then reported by The Guardian this month that Mwape was among those being investigated.

Ahead of Zambia’s clash with Spain, media took the opportunity to question Mwape about the investigation to the displeasure of one FIFA media officer.

The press conference was swiftly ended by FIFA and Zambia press officers after repeated questions on the matter, although that was after Mwape did initially respond to one query.

When asked by a journalist if it would benefit the team for him to step down as coach so that there are no distractions, Mwape said the “truth of the matter” would come out.

“What environment, affecting the team, in particular? What are you talking about?” Mwape said.

“I would like to know, because there is no way I can retire [resign] without reason. Maybe your reason is because of what you are reading from the media, or from the press, but the truth of the matter should actually come out, not just rumours.”

The press conference did run for 13 minutes though before being cut short, with Zambia captain Barbra Banda telling reporters her team was up to the daunting task of beating Spain to keep their Women’s World Cup dream alive despite being without regular goalkeeper Catherine Musonda.

The Copper Queens were smashed 5-0 by a well-oiled Japan in their opening clash and a second defeat on Wednesday in Auckland could spell doom.

Should they lose and Japan win or draw against Costa Rica, Zambia’s campaign will be over.

“Spain is not a pushover team, we are expecting a tough game but we are up for the challenge,” said Banda, who plies her trade with Chinese side Shanghai Shengli.

“We’ve looked into our mistakes from the previous game and we are just hoping to collect the maximum three points.

“We started with a loss but that doesn’t mean that we have to look down on ourselves,” she added.

“We have two more games and are still motivated as a team and encouraging each other that we can still go through to the next round.”

WORLD CUP WRAP: NZ gutted by VAR call as Aussie helps debutants to historic upset

To stand any chance against Spain, who comfortably beat Costa Rica 3-0 in their tournament opener, Zambia will need to improve in every department, starting with their leaky defence.

They also need to be more creative up front, failing to produce a single clear chance against Japan despite Banda’s undoubted ability as a goalscorer.

Adding to their woes, first-choice goalkeeper Musonda will miss the game after being sent off on the dying stages of the Japan clash, with Eunice Sakala set to replace her.

“In the previous game, we got a lot of experience, Japan was very disciplined and I think we have learned something from that,” said Banda.

“We are just hoping to implement a good mentality.”

Zambia are the lowest-ranked team at the 32-nation tournament and boast one of the youngest squads.

STAR FUMES AT DEMOTION AS DISHARMONY TEARS NORWAY APART

Elsewhere, Norway coach Hege Riise was left sweating on news of an injury which forced star striker Ada Hegerberg out of Tuesday’s goalless Women’s World Cup draw with Switzerland.

Riise’s problems were exacerbated due to tensions in the squad with Caroline Graham Hansen unhappy at being left out of the line-up.

Winger Graham Hansen, a Champions League winner last month with Barcelona, was dropped by Riise for the game in Hamilton following Norway’s 1-0 defeat to co-hosts New Zealand in the opening match of the World Cup.

Meanwhile, former Ballon d’Or winner Hegerberg had lined up on the pitch for the national anthems before heading back towards the dressing room injured, with Sophie Roman Haug coming in as a last-minute replacement.

The Norwegian Football Association said Hegerberg had felt a pain in her groin in the final sprint of the warm-up, with Riise admitting she only realised a change would need to be made at the last moment.

“We were quick to have (the line-up) changed so Sophie could come in and not use a substitute,” said Riise, who did not provide any further update on the extent of Hegerberg’s injury.

Graham Hansen’s frustration at not starting might be a more pressing concern for Riise with Norway now needing to win their last Group A game against the Philippines just to stand a chance of reaching the last 16.

According to Norwegian media, Graham Hansen complained she had not been shown respect after being left out of the starting XI.

That was later confirmed when she spoke in a postmatch TV interview, visibly frustrated after being brought off the bench against Switzerland.

“It’s tough, I don’t know what I can say. There’s not much I can say, I feel like I’m standing here with my hands tied,” she said.

“Nothing comes for free in life, but I thought I had earned a certain amount of respect, but maybe that wasn’t the case,” Graham Hansen added.

“I feel I have been stepped on for a whole year — everyone says all the time that we have to stand together as a team and as a nation, but I feel I’ve been on the receiving end [of a raw deal].

“These are things we will handle internally,” Riise said when asked about the player’s reaction.

“There is a lot of frustration that we didn’t win. Caroline is entitled to be frustrated and to express an opinion, but since I arrived in this position I have always said the team is the most important thing.

“All players want to start matches. I reached the decision in the best interest of my team and I defend my decision today,” added the 54-year-old coach.

Norway lacked inspiration in the final third in the absence of Hegerberg, the UEFA Champions League’s all-time top scorer, and with Graham Hansen only coming on just before the hour mark.

They remain without a goal or a win in the tournament and have just one point in Group A.

Switzerland are top with four points, one ahead of New Zealand and debutants the Philippines, who beat the co-hosts 1-0 earlier in Wellington.

Norway must win their final group game against the Philippines in Auckland on Sunday to stand a chance of progressing.

Switzerland just need to avoid defeat against New Zealand at the same time in order to reach the last 16.

The loss just before kick-off of Hegerberg, whose career has been blighted by injuries in recent years, was a disappointment for the 10,769 fans who showed up on a cold, wet and miserable night.

Her replacement, the Roma player Roman Haug, was unlucky not to score, forcing a good save from Swiss goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann with a header midway through the first half and from a half-volley after the restart.

Norway were more lively following the introduction of Graham Hansen, who forced another save from Thalmann after cutting in from the right flank.

Her club teammate Ana Maria Crnogorcevic had Switzerland’s best chance, firing over after a quick exchange of passes in the first half.

Yet a draw was a better result for Switzerland, and Norway are at risk of a group-stage exit, just like at last year’s European Championship.