Japan secured their place in the quarter finals following a comfortable 3-1 win over Norway in the second Round of 16 game played at the Sky Stadium in Wellington.

The Japanese as always started the game with great intent, dominating the early exchanges and it wasn’t much of a surprise when they took the lead albeit quite fortunately.

In trying so hard to stop a teasing ball from Japan’s live wire Hinata Miyazawa, Ingrid Engel turned the ball into her own net to hand the Asians the lead after 15 minutes on the clock.

However, Norway without the influencial Ada Hegerberg starting the game, drew level five minutes later. Out of almost nothing, Guro Reiten found the back of the net with an header off a pin point cross by Vilde Boa Risa.

The Chelsea midfielder’s equalizer was the first goal that Japan conceded in four games at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and there was no other goal before the end of the first half after that.

It didn’t take too long after the restart as Japan restored their lead in the 50th minute. Risa Shimizu reacted the quickest, taking advantage of Vilde Boa Risa ‘s wayward back pass before sending the ball past Aurora Mikalaen in goal for Norway.

The 2011 Women’s World Cup winners like the first half kept contril of proceedings for much of the second half and duly extended their lead with 9 minutes left on the clock.

Hinata Miyazawa added a deserved third goal to effectively send her country to the quarter finals of this year’s edition.