NEWS

Forward Chinatsu Kira scored a hat trick in the space of nine minutes in the first half as Japan overwhelmed France 7-1 in the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Sunday.

The win earned Japan a place in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
“It was a perfect game,” Japan women’s Under-17 coach Hiroshi Yoshida commented. “We combined well to produce great football and six goals in the first half.”
Playing at Waikato Stadium, Japan launched their goal-scoring rampage with midfielder Yuiko Inoue’s strike in the 11th minute.
France drew level five minutes later through Marine Augis, but defender Natsuki Kishikawa put the Japanese girls ahead again in the 21st minute.
Kira then scored back-to-back goals in the 26th and 27th minutes to help her side take control of the game. The Kamimura Gakuen High School player found the target again in the 34th minute.
Japan were controlling 61 percent of the ball possession and took a 6-1 lead at the break, following Chiaki Shimada’s 38th-minute goal. Kishikawa, who plays for the Urawa Reds Jr. Youth Ladies side, added another for Japan in the 57th minute.
Japan has six points from two wins and will play their third and final group game against Paraguay on Wednesday.
The United States are in second place with three points, staying ahead of France on goal difference. Paraguay are winless after two matches. The United States beat Paraguay 3-1 in the other Group C game on Sunday.
Yoshida said, “I’m very happy with the results and the fact that we’ve made it through to the next stage.”
France coach Gerard Sergent commented: “Japan were too strong, too fast and too technical for us. Their play was almost scientific, or even synchronized. I can only congratulate them for such a performance.”