Ayase Ueda scored twice as Japón beat Túnez 4-0 on Saturday in the World Cup's 1,000th match, a result that turned Tunisia vs Japan football team starting lineup positions into the story of Group F after the first whistle. Japón reached four points and stayed level with Países Bajos, while Túnez was eliminated.
Ayase Ueda and Daichi Kamada
Daichi Kamada put Japón ahead at four minutes, the fastest goal in Japan's World Cup history. Ueda added two more, and Junya Itō also scored as Japón posted four goals in a World Cup match for the first time.
Monterrey and Group F
The match was played in Monterrey, México, and its scale went beyond the scoreline. Japón was assured at least third place in Group F after the win, and Países Bajos stayed ahead only because it had scored one more goal in its two matches.
Hervé Renard and Túnez
Túnez had turned to Hervé Renard after a 5-1 loss to Sweden, but the response in Group F still ended in a fourth straight setback. The 4-0 defeat closed Túnez's run and left Japón with position, goals, and points that now shape the rest of the group.
For Japón, the clean finish matters because the group table is tight at the top. Four points after two matches keeps the path open, but the next step will be decided by goal scoring, not just survival, after a day when Kamada opened the door and Ueda finished it.
