Clinical Japan, slick Spain surge into Women's World Cup quarters
Japan's surprise title charge at the Women's World Cup gathered pace with a clinical 3-1 win over Norway to reach the last eight while Spain thrashed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday.
The 2011 champions Japan will face either holders the United States or Sweden in the quarterfinals and on this evidence they will take some stopping.
They have won all four games in Australia and New Zealand – including a 4-0 thumping of Spain – scoring 14 times and conceding only once.
Hinata Miyazawa is also quickly becoming one of the breakout stars of a World Cup which has been full of shocks.
The 23-year-old got the third nine minutes from time to seal Norway's fate in front of 33 000 in Wellington.
She is now the tournament's top scorer.
The teams went to the break level at 1-1, but Japan turned the screw on Norway in the second period through goals by Risa Shimizu and Miyazawa.
BRILLIANT BONMATI
Spain crushed Switzerland to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in their history and will face the Netherlands or South Africa next.
Aitana Bonmati played a starring role with a brace and two assists in front of 43 217 fans at Eden Park in Auckland, a record crowd for a football match in New Zealand.
Coach Jorge Vilda, who made five changes to his starting line-up including dropping reigning Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, said he had "the 23 best players in the world".
"Aitana played very well today, she scored goals and was player of the match, but the rest of the team played very well too. We have 23 Ballons d'Or," he said.
Barcelona's Bonmati said the humbling by Japan in the group stage had been on their minds.
"When you lose like we did the other day it is a really big blow but to win 5-1 in a World Cup knockout tie, be through
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