Japan mark 1,000th game in history of the Fifa World Cup by thrashing Tunisia
Ayase Ueda scores a brace, Daichi Kamada bags his second goal of the tournament and Junya Ito gets off the mark in Mexico
Japan marked the 1,000th game in the history of the World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia on Saturday in Guadalupe to close in on a place in the last 32.
Ayase Ueda scored twice while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito were also on target as the Asian giants joined the Netherlands on four points at the top of Group F.
Tunisia, who were thumped 5-1 by Sweden in their first game of the tournament, can no longer hope for a place in the knockout rounds.
The Blue Samurai, who held the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw in their Group F opener, were always in control against Tunisia at the Estadio BBVA.
The result marked a losing start for new Tunisia manager Herve Renard, who was hastily appointed to take over the World Cup campaign after predecessor Sabri Lamouchi was sacked in the wake of the Sweden drubbing.
But Renard’s team never looked like threatening a technically superior Japanese side that were quickly into their trademark, smooth passing game.