World Cup: Japan Send Tunisia Packing as Caracao Grab Historic Draw

Japan marked the 1,000th game in World Cup history with a 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia on Saturday, closing 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, which 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 Monterrey Stadium.

The result marked a losing start for Herve Renard, Tunisia’s head coach, who was hastily appointed to take over the World Cup campaign after predecessor Sabri Lamouchi was sacked in the wake of the drubbing by Sweden.

But Renard’s team never looked like threatening a technically superior Japanese side that were quickly into their trademark, smooth passing game.

Daichi Kamada opened the scoring after just four minutes, finishing from close range after deft interplay from Ao Tanaka and Keito Nakamura.

The Japanese almost scored again moments later, with only a desperate goalline clearance from Dylan Bronn denying the Asian giants a second goal.

Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen was also working overtime, and had to claw away a shot that just went agonisingly short of crossing the goal line.

Japan, though, finally added to their tally in the 31st minute, with striker Ueda taking advantage of some hesitant Tunisian defending to surge forward and thunder a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The rout continued in the second half, with Junya Ito latching onto a brilliant through ball to calmly finish on 69 minutes before Ueda scored again with a looping header in the 83rd minute.

In the earlier match, Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room was the hero as the tiny Caribbean island claimed its first-ever World Cup point in a goalless draw against toothless Ecuador.

Ecuador, which finished second in South American qualifying, had 28 shots, including 15 on target, in Kansas City, but Room stood firm in an astonishing display.

The 0-0 draw in Group E keeps alive Curacao’s hopes of reaching the knockout phase, extending their fairytale journey at their first World Cup.