Spain and Japan move on to knockout stage at Women’s World Cup as La Roja beat Zambia 5-0

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — As she has many times before, Jennifer Hermoso answered the call for Spain on Wednesday night.

She scored twice and assisted in her 100th international appearance to push La Roja past Zambia 5-0 on Wednesday, a victory that locked both Spain and Japan into the Women’s World Cup knockout round.

Spain and Japan are the first teams to clinch berths in the tournament’s round of 16. They will play on Monday in Wellington to decide seeding.

“I’m very happy to be in the last 16, I’m proud of moments during the game,” Spain coach Jorge Vilda said. “And I’m very happy that Spain is a team of 23 football players. We saw that today.”

Hermoso, Spain’s all-time leading scorer, deposited a one-time header off a perfect cross from Alexia Putellas in the 13th minute. She then gathered a rebound and scored on an empty net in the 70th minute. The goal was initially wiped away for offside, then eventually confirmed after a lengthy review.

“To score two goals in the World Cup,” Hermoso said through a translator. “I will keep that forever.”

Teresa Abelleira launched a 58-mph strike from well outside the box in the ninth minute and beat Eunice Sakala to the top side of the net, her second goal with the Spain national team.

Like Hermoso, Alba Redondo also scored twice, in the 69th and 85th minutes. Her first goal was an impressive run off of a long pass, while her second was on a rebound in front of an empty net.

JAPAN 2, COSTA RICA 0: Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino scored two minutes apart in the first half to lead in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Japan and Spain, 4-0 winners over Zambia, were the first teams in the tournament to move on to the round of 16. They are tied for the top spot in Group C with six points each.

CANADA 2, ITALY 1: Conceding a goal directly from a corner kick against Ireland, Olympic champion Canada was in trouble in its second game of the Women’s World Cup.

After a disappointing 0-0 draw with Nigeria in its opening match of the tournament, and with iconic forward Christine Sinclair on the bench, Canada’s hopes of advancing from the group stage were under threat.

Up against a determined Ireland, an inspired Katie McCabe and torrential rain at Rectangular Stadium, the odds were stacking up against the Canadians.

But with the character of Olympic gold medalists, a touch of fortune and some help from the bench, Canada recovered. Adriana Leon scored the decisive goal early in the second half to complete a come-from-behind win that moved her country to the top of Group B and within sight of the round of 16.

It had all started so well for Ireland when captain Katie McCabe curled a fourth-minute corner beyond Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and into the back of the net.