And here’s the match report from Dunedin:
Thanks for joining me today. I’ll leave you with this – if you are enjoying the Guardian’s coverage of the Women’s World Cup, please give this a read.
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Don’t forget you can follow the Golden Boot rankings throughout the tournament.
Brazil’s Ary Borges is on top for now after her three against Panama.
From one to the next! Spain will take on Zambia in the other Group C game in under half an hour in Auckland.
Will Unwin has you covered for that match.
The stats do not paint a great picture for Costa Rica I’m afraid.
Only six attempts on goal, with one on target, compared to 25 and 11 for Japan. Possession percentages are a bit closer than you might expect – Japan were turning it over a bit too, but they were able to win it back more than Costa Rica.
That’s two wins from two games for Japan, making their chances of progressing from the group stage look pretty good.
What did you think of their performance in Dunedin tonight?
Their passing was clinical but they will need to convert all those chances when they get them against Spain!
Full time! Japan 2-0 Costa Rica
Well that’s that! Japan will take the three points and Costa Rica will be deflated after that performance. The fact Japan could not get more goals was more down to their inability to finish rather than any effort from Costa Rica’s defence.
90 + 6 mins: Sugita on the left, to Miyazawa who’s pass is intercepted. Ueki draws a foul but the referee blows her whistle!
90 + 5 mins: Miyazawa slices it through the defence to Ueki! She can’t control it or get a shot off and it’s poked to Solera.
90 + 4 mins: Another chance for Japan but Ueki can’t quite direct towards the goal. Solera takes the goal kick, but Japan are quick to regain possession. They reset.
90 + 3 mins: Japan want another goal. Sugita’s cross is headed by Ueki, straight to Solera AGAIN!
Japan’s shots may have been on target this half but there has been no power behind them.
90 + 2 mins: Solera scoops up the rebound from the Japan corner. There has been another change. Shimizu has come off.
90 + 1 mins: There will be a minimum of five minutes added.
Nagano crosses to the feet of Sugita, who is tackled by Coto – excellent defending from the Costa Rican.
90 mins: Seike’s wayward cross is caught easily by Solera. There’s going to be another change for Japan as we go into added time.
88 mins: The drums have started up in the stadium again. not sure if that’s Japan supporters starting early celebrations or Costa Rican’s with some last minute motivation for their players.
87 mins: Villalobos controls a long ball beautifully. It turns over again and Costa Rica put some pressure on as Japan’s defenders pass it around in the penalty area.
Updated
YELLOW CARD (Chinchilla 86')
Maybe a sign of frustration from the Costa Rican there.
And they give away another foul shortly after play restarts.
85 mins: Costa Rica have a free kick, which Katherine Alvarado will take. It’s headed high towards Yamashita.
84 mins: I think that shot from G Villalobos was Costa Rica’s first shot on target for the tournament! Better late than never, but they are going to need to press a lot more if they want to catch up to Japan, and have a chance of progressing.
83 mins: A weird scramble in the box as Solera gets hands on the corner but then drops the ball as she falls to the ground. She eventually is able to pick it up.
82 mins: A lovely ball through to Sugita, who crosses it in low and it’s cleared over the line by Costa Rica. Corner for Japan.
81 mins: CHANCE for Costa Rica! Gloriana Villalobos with a shot on target! Forcing a diving save from Yamashita.
79 mins: Coto drops to the pitch with what looks like cramp. The Japan forwards are just running rings around them.
Ueki cuts through into the area and passes to Seiki who is unmarked. Her shot is weak and directly to Solera.
78 mins: Japan’s movement and passing around the area is clinical, but they are failing on that final touch. A long cross in from Hasegawa is cleared by Coto.
77 mins: The attendance is announced in the stadium. I think they said more than 6,000. I’ll confirm that. It’s a low number in comparison to some of the other crowds we’ve seen so far.
Miyazawa has another chance! There’s not a lot of conviction behind the shot though.
75 mins: Costa Rica try to break but they are not getting the numbers forward to support it.
They make another change. Salas is coming off, and Sheika Scott comes on.
74 mins: Hayashi and Naomoto are coming off. Fuka Nagano and Kiko Seike are on in their places. Both Japan’s goal scorers are off now.
73 mins: Japan are about to make another two changes.
Japan send a cross over from the right, miles over the goal.
72 mins: Naomoto takes the free kick and passes to her right. The ball is chipped forward and the Japanese captain can’t quite her her head on it.
Another cross in is met by Ueki who gets her head on it behind the defenders but sends it to Solera.
71 mins: Coto with the throw for Costa Rica. Japan pick it up and Miyazawa looks for an option in the middle. She doesn’t find one but draws the foul.
70 mins: On Solera … another message from Mary.
“Solera is heroic in goal and Las Ticas are trying their best but I can’t see Japan surrendering this lead. They are so organized and clinical, they simply dominate. Spain v Japan is going to be a banger!”
68 mins: The teams huddle in the brief pause. Ueki goes over to Solera to offer a handshake which she accepts. It didn’t look malicious at all mind you, the hit.
Play restarts with. Japan corner. Again Solera came out to take it but a Costa Rican defender cleared it to the edge of the area.
66 mins: Solera is still on the ground in the penalty area. She took a very hard hit from Ueki there as the forward was running in.
65 mins: A long, high ball from Shimizu results in a nasty collision between Solera and Ueki. The goalkeeper came out to collect the ball but Villalobos tried to head it away. Nearly ended in an own goal.
64 mins: Raquel Rodriguez comes on for Cristin Granados.
Rodriguez gets her first touch early and Costa Rica move the ball around the back third.
63 mins: Ueki passes off to Sugita who easily gets past Herrera and sends it across goal. The cross is a bit too hard and fast.
Updated
62 mins: Costa Rica interrupt Hasegawa’s momentum. But the pass forward from Villalobos goes straight back to Japan.
61 mins: Not a great delivery from Naomoto, fall short of the Japan players in the middle. Costa Rica clear it and Japan are allowed to reset.
60 mins: Ueki gets a low cross into Miyazawa who can’t quite get to it in time. It’s out for a corner.
59 mins: Japan are making their first changes.
Fujino is coming off for Riko Euki. And also Tanaka is making way for Hinata Miyazawa. Changing up the forwards there.
57 mins: Coto helps Costa Rica push up the pitch a bit further again. They can’t break through so they bring it back and start again.
55 mins: The substitute Gloriana Villalobos is lying on the pitch after a head collision, they pause to check she’s ok, and she is so play resumes.
54 mins: Fujino looks promising on the edge of the area but no one can get on to her low cross/shot and Solera takes it up easily.
53 mins: That minute of play from Costa Rica was probably the most exciting yet. Gloriana Villalobos went hard at the Japanese defence.
52 mins: A brief sign of attacking pace from Costa Rica, its from the substitute Gloriana Villalobos.
51 mins: Costa Rica’s clearances are not helping them, Japan are regaining possession so quickly.
Chinchilla is fouled and Costa Rica have some time to work the ball around.
50 mins: On the counter attack after a turnover in midfield, Hasegawa has a ping from outside the area, but Solera dives to her right and saves it.
49 mins: Naomoto has a shot but it’s straight to Solera. She has made more saves than any other goalkeeper so far this tournament.
Updated
48 mins: Another cross in from Sugita is headed away but picked up by Japan at halfway.
47 mins: Sugita is causing trouble on the left.
46 mins: Japan are dangerous from the whistle as Sugita sends a cross into the area. It falls without a touch and is then sent over the crossbar.
Second half kick-off!
Peeeeeep! Let’s go again. One change for Costa Rica.
In other World Cup news today – there are more injury woes in the camp of co-hosts Australia! Not only is Sam Kerr still out injured but now another striker is in doubt.
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Mina Tanaka has been incredible again. The Costa Rica defence really need to close her down faster.
Kurt asks: “Can Japan win the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup?”
Can anyone else answer that? They are looking great, their goals have been impressive. Their passing is clinical, and there’s been flashes of creativity up front. But they also haven’t been particularly challenged yet. And they aren’t converting all their chances.
We might have to wait for the matchup with Spain to get a better idea on that question.
“Jo, greetings from California.”
Hello, Mary! I just checked at I think it’s nearly 11pm there, so thanks for following along.
“Two questions. After getting blown away in their first match, will their second be a repeat for Costa Rica? Japan was so impressive. And how long will it take a Pink shirted Inter Miami Messi to do a cross promotion with the Barbie movie?”
OK on the first question: I’d say it’s looking that way for Costa Rica already. We know Japan got going in their second half against Zambia on the weekend, will they come out firing after the break and brush Costa Rica aside? Or maybe Costa Rica can regroup and make trouble. I sort of answered.
On question two: it’s genuinely baffling that this Messi/Barbie crossover hasn’t happened already!
Half-time (Japan 2-0 Costa Rica)
Another really dominant performance from Japan. What did you make of that half of football?
I still feel like Japan are holding back, I’m waiting for them to put their foot down. But maybe that’s a reflection of Costa Rica still stopping them from breaking through.
Let me know what you think.
45 + 5 mins: Japan work the ball around the middle for a bit, but it’s intercepted and cleared by Benavides. That will be it I think for now.
45 + 4 mins: Mariana Benavides sends the free kick forwards but it bounces straight back out to the halfway line and Japan regain possession.
45 + 3 mins: Sorry forgot to say there are 5 minutes added to this first half. I was worrying about people’s knees. Now Chinchilla has just gone down after a challenged from Kumagai.
45 + 2 mins: A cross in is controlled down by Tanaka who passes to Naomoto. She looks offside, but the flag stays down. Naomoto rushes and sends the ball out.
45 + 1 mins: Oh no the replay of a shot from Tanaka shows the ball absolutely slamming into the inside of Villalobos’s knee. She has walked off the pitch for now. Oh no she’s back on already!
45 mins: Costa Rica have a player down in their penalty area getting some treatment. Ah it’s Villalobos. Maybe cramp?
43 mins: Fabiola Villalobos is working so hard at right back. It might not seem obvious from the score but she is thwarting chances.
42 mins: Shot from Tanaka from outside the area is just high off the crossbar! Solera may have had that covered anyway.
41 mins: Japan look so strong. Although still making some errors they are then winning back the ball afterwards, regrouping in pushing again.
40 mins: Maria Salas showing some of that frustration – she thinks she was pushed, but the referee is not interested.
39 mins: There’s a foul by Herrera and I think the Costa Ricans might be starting to get a bit frustrated.
38 mins: Nice cross in from Naomoto finds Tanaka on the edge of the six-yard box but her header is straight to Solera.
37 mins: Costa Rica starting to flood the area with red shirts whenever Japan push forward. Tanaka looks so threatening, but the pass through is to a player offside.
36 mins: Another long lob forward from Costa Rica is intercepted by Japan.
33 mins: Foul by Herrera. Japan have a free kick. Costa Rica have looked vulnerable at set pieces, and Japan have got numbers. The free kick is a fizzer and the resulting shot from Miyake is off target.
Updated
31 mins: Japan regroup after a slight scare. Their passing is near immaculate on the edge of the area. Tanaka goes down in the area but nothing comes of it. Risa Shimizu sends a rebounding ball wide of goal.
30 mins: Costa Rica push up, passing it across the line of defenders and have a chance in the penalty area! It goes across the face of goal and Chinchilla can’t get there in time.
28 mins: Two goals in quick succession and I feel like this could just escalate now. Costa Rica’s defence doesn’t have a lot in reply.
Updated
GOAL! Japan 2-0 Costa Rica (Fujino 27')
After Tanaka’s header goes wide, Fujino is able to pick it up outside the area, turns and runs back in and on a ridiculously tight angle sends it between Solera and the near post. Beautiful stuff!
GOAL! Japan 1-0 Costa Rica (Naomoto 25')
After a brief trip into Costa Rica’s half, a pass from right to Naomoto is helped after defender Coto slips. Naomoto slams it past Solera.
22 mins: Naomoto with the first corner on the left. Drops short of Tanaka who tries a sneaky flick back, but to nowhere and its out for a goal kick.
20 mins: A shot fired into Maria Coto goes out for a Japan corner.
19 mins: Japan are certainly looking dangerous, but still turning over possession in midfield thanks to good pressure and pace fro the Costa Ricans. Naomoto sends another chance across the face of goal.
18 mins: Gabriela Guillen has a crack, it was going wide anyway and Ayaka Yamashita has it covered.
16 mins: A sort of cross sort of shot from Fujino is picked up easily by Solera.
15 mins: Costa Rica gets some passes away in the midfield, but can’t hold to possession when the ball is sent forward.
Oh WOW right-back Naomoto has another shot which is again expertly saved by Solera! The rebound is fumbled over the line.
14 mins: The cheering and drumming from Japan supporters in Dunedin is pretty impressive! It’s not a huge stadium, and has a closed roof so maybe that’s amplifying it a bit.
12 mins: A brilliant save from Solera! Saki Kumagai is essentially unmarked and heads it toward goal. Another corner for Japan, and Solera comes out to catch it.
11 mins: Japan have another corner after Fabiola Villalobos takes it over the line. The Japan defenders come up.
10 mins: A cross into the area from Yui Hasegawa goes over everyone and out past the far post. Things are looking more promising now for Japan. Hikaru Noamoto is dispossed in the midfield by Melissa Herrera.
8 mins: Solera slips as she runs towards a back pass but manages to clear it in time as Tanaka steams towards her.
7 mins: The delivery from Fujino is headed wide Tanaka.
6 mins: Japan are not quite dominating the play as expected against this 36th-ranked side. But Japan have their first corner.
5 mins: Nice ball from Mina Tanaka through to Aoba Fujino on the edge of the area but her heavy touch sends it over the line.
4 mins: Maria Coto draws a free kick, but Japan take back possession straight away. Costa Rica goalkeeper Daniela Solera gets her first touch with an easy pick up.
2 mins: Costa Rica are pushing early up the right and Japan are clearing with a bit of desperation it seems.
Updated
1 min: A couple of long balls from each team to start off with, and a few turnovers.
Kick-off!
Peeeeeeeeeeep! (I’m led to believe that’s how we start things here.) The game is under way in chilly Dunedin.
Will Japan go back to back? Can Costa Rica get a few more shots on goal!?
Peter has noticed the lovely surname of one of Costa Rica’s players.
“Chinchilla is a wonderful, velvety name for a striker. Chinchilla glove, iron fist! Or should I say, chinchilla socks, iron foot!”
She’s a midfielder I think, but no matter.
Just a few minutes to go now! The teams are walking out of the tunnel.
When the football gets under way I will drop in some links to the players in the action as it happens. But if you want to get up to speed with all 736 players in the tournament (because what better way to spend your time is there), the complete player guide is here and ready for you.
Costa Rica lineup
And here’s the updated list for today’s game. Looks like Costa Rica have made a couple of changes from their starting XI against Spain:
23 Daniela Solera
20 Fabiola Villalobos
4 Mariana Benavides
2 Gabriela Guillen
3 Maria Coto
16 Katherine Alvarado
15 Cristin Granados
12 Maria Elizondo
7 Melissa Herrera
9 Maria Salas
14 Priscila Chinchilla
Esta es la alineación con la que saldrá nuestra Sele Femenina a disputar su segundo partido de la Copa del Mundo. ¡Arriba La Sele! 💪🏻🇨🇷
— FCRF 🇨🇷 (@fedefutbolcrc) July 26, 2023
Costa Rica 🇨🇷 vs 🇯🇵 Japón
🏟 Estadio de Dunedin, Nueva Zelanda.
⏰ 11:00 p.m
Presenta @kolbi_cr#FCRF #LaSeleFemenina #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/XCrTcegYh0
Japan lineup
A few changes for Japan too:
1 Ayaka Yamashita
5 Shiori Miyake
4 Saki Kumagai
3 Moeka Minami
2 Risa Shimizu
16 Honoka Hayashi
8 Hikaru Naomoto
14 Yui Hasegawa
6 Hina Sugita
15 Aoba Fujino
11 Mina Tanaka
イラストレーター「OKADA」(@HOOOOJICHA)さんによる #なでしこジャパン 応援イラストで、本日のスタメンを紹介💙
— JFAなでしこサッカー (@jfa_nadeshiko) July 26, 2023
🏆FIFA 女子 #ワールドカップ 2023 🇦🇺🇳🇿
⚔️グループステージ第2節
⌚️14:00(🇯🇵)
🆚コスタリカ代表🇨🇷
📺NHK BS1
📱💻FIFA+
🔗https://t.co/nKJjh3VsTH#FIFAWWC #JPN#なでニコ… pic.twitter.com/MqWonGgf4I
Costa Rica team guide
At their second Women’s World Cup, Las Ticas are generating a lot of excitement back home. Check out the expert team guide to see how Amelia Valverde’s team are placed for the 2023 tournament.
Japan team guide
Can the current generation from Japan recreate some of the magic from the previous decade. The 2011 winners have said they want to use their showing at this tournament to reinvigorate women’s football in Japan. Mari Hibino has all the background on the Nadeshiko in the team guide.
Kurt has emailed me from Cincinnati, Ohio – very ready for the next USA game.
“We are 21 hours away from the USWNT facing the Netherlands in group E in a rematch of the 2019 final.”
The two teams are out and about warming up.
Group C standings
Japan sit in number one spot in the Group C table after the first game with three points. Spain are in second also on three points but behind on goals. Costa Rica are third and Zambia are at the bottom.
It looks like there are more Japanese fans at the moment, but there’s a couple of Costa Rican supporters around too!
Costa Rica 0-3 Spain match report
As Sid Lowe writes in his report from the opening Group C game last Friday – the match could be neatly summarised by the fact the Costa Rican goalkeeper got cramp.
Spain were so prolific with their shots that Daniela Solera’s touches were on par with those of her outfield teammates.
The world No 6 team completely dismantled their 36th-ranked opponents, despite Solera’s incredible effort in goal.
Costa Rica had just 19% of possession and one shot fo the entire game.
The minute-by-minute detail is here if you feel the need.
The Japan team have sussed out the pitch in Dunedin, as fans start to head into the stadium.
Japan 5-0 Zambia match report
The former champions Japan got off to a flying start against debutants Zambia on Saturday in New Zealand.
Hinata Miyazawa scored twice and forward Mina Tanaka found the net in the second half, after having two earlier efforts called back for offside.
The game was not without drama: multiple VAR decisions interrupted play, and the Zambian goalkeeper Catherine Munsonda was sent off in 90 + 7th minute for taking out a breaking Japanese forward.
Zambia’s substitute goalkeeper Eunice Sakala then miraculously saved the penalty only for it to be ruled she moved over her line too soon. The retaken penalty was converted.
If you want to check back on any of the detail from that game take a look at Sarah Rendell’s minute-by-minute blog.
Preamble
Hello there! It is day seven of the 2023 Women’s World Cup and my goodness is the time flying. We’ve only been waiting for four years, and then it just flashes by so fast.
There are three games on the schedule today, the first being the subject of this live blog: Japan v Costa Rica in Dunedin, New Zealand. Stay with me, Jo Khan, for team info and minute-by-minute action, kick-off is 5pm local time/3pm AEST/2pm JST/11pm CST/6am BST. Sorry if I didn’t include your time zone, please don’t take it personally.
Spain and Zambia play later in Auckland, and then Group B’s Canada and Ireland face off in Perth.
You can get in touch with me via email or tweet @_jokhan. Let me know where you are watching/following from today.
