The Big Story Day 12: Japan dominates Spain, Zambia earns first World Cup win

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Day 12 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup opened with Japan dominating Spain while Zambia earned their first-ever World Cup win with a victory over Costa Rica. The next set of simultaneous matches saw Group B play finish up with Canada taking on Australia at the same time Nigeria went against the Republic of Ireland.




Couldn’t watch and need to know what the big story is? This is what happened on the tenth day of the World Cup.

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Your bite-sized recap of Day 12 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup



Costa Rica 1, Zambia 3



The Big Story: Though both teams already knew they could not advance to the Round of 16 they still had the chance to make history. Zambia did just that as they scored their first-ever World Cup goal and then two more to earn their first World Cup win in the final match of their debut global finals.




The Big Moment: The Copper Queens’ first World Cup goal was a stunner from 22-year-old center back Lushomo Mweemba. The earliest goal of this tournament so far was assisted by the outswinging corner kick of Avell Chitundu and brilliantly volleyed by the young defender.

A first-ever Women's World Cup goal for the Copper Queens of Zambia!pic.twitter.com/uRDJaYXdKV
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) July 31, 2023

What it means: Neither of these teams are moving on past the group stage, but both have positives to take from their last game of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Zambia started the game on the front foot and took full advantage. They were putting the Costa Rican defense under so much pressure that four players were given yellow cards in the first half for bad defensive challenges and trying to physically hold back Zambia’s attackers. Barbra Banda drew several fouls and eventually doubled Zambia’s lead with a clinical penalty conversion in the 31st minute.




From then on Costa Rica surged back. From around the 35th minute on Costa Rica had the better chances, controlled the ball more, drew more fouls, and had more set piece chances, but they could not convert in those first 45. Las Ticas came out of halftime and immediately pulled a goal back through Daphne Melissa Herrera Monge who took advantage of poor set piece defending by Zambia. Costa Rica continue to create chances. They thought they had earned a penalty but it was determined a player was offside before the foul so play was pulled back. Not long after that VAR check Las Ticas had a goal put in the back of the net taken back for offsides.

GAME ON

Costa Rica pulls one back and scores its first goal of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup! pic.twitter.com/KZV6Xt2WLf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 31, 2023

Star striker Banda turned provider for Zambia’s win-clinching goal scored by Racheal Kundananji. In the end it was the Copper Queens’ clinical finishing that made the difference as they solidifed their first FIFA World Cup win with a third goal. Of Zambia’s 15 shots, eight were on target, whereas the Las Ticas only put three of their 16 attempts on frame.

RACHEAL KUNDANANJI SEALS THE DEAL FOR THE COPPER QUEENS pic.twitter.com/b7Ixin6vUP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 31, 2023

– Bella Munson

Racheal Kundananji is ready to lead by example for young girls in Zambia

Japan 4, Spain 0



The Big Story: Japan’s compact defense and clinical finishing in fast break transition gave them a 3–0 lead in the first half and they added another one late in the second half. Spain was unable to make the necessary adjustments to get themselves back into the match.   




The Big Moment: Japan quickly adjusted to the Spanish possession and Angel City FC forward Jun Endo sent a ball forward to Hinata Miyazawa in transition. Miyazawa was able to slot the ball home to start the scoring. 

JAPAN TAKES THE LEAD

A clinical finish from Hinata Miyazawa pic.twitter.com/eVdyS5DXFM
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 31, 2023

What it means: Spain and Japan had already clinched advancement to the knockout stage, but the winner of the match, and thus first place finisher in Group C, would get to stay in Wellington and face Norway, instead of traveling to Auckland to play against Switzerland. Both teams love possession, love building through their midfields, and are known for being technically sound on the ball—which when combined led to both teams struggling to possess in the opponent’s final third at the start of the match. 




Japan allowed Spain to possess with little pressure in the Spanish half, but once they tried to make inroads toward the Japanese goal, the defense did a solid job of forcing turnovers and backpasses. The most important part of the Japanese gameplan was going to be the finishing since they were going to be mostly attacking in transition. They did not back down from that challenge. Japan was able to double their lead in the 29th minute on another fast break, and then make it three in the 40th using the same tactics. 

THREE FOR JAPAN

Hinata Miyazawa now has 2 goals… in the first half pic.twitter.com/msIxJTSUI8
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 31, 2023

In the second half Spain once again held possession but struggled to take advantage of their chances. This game has highlighted for Spain that their finishing needs to be cleaner against high-caliber opponents and how susceptible they are in transition. Japan has shown that they can be very dangerous both in transition and with possession, and used their lead to get some further rotation in their lineup.




– Taylor Vincent



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