Ueda Double Sends Japan Past Tunisia in World Cup's 1,000th Match

Japan beat Tunisia 4–0 at Monterrey Stadium in the 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history. Daichi Kamada prodded home Keito Nakamura's cutback in the fourth minute — the fastest goal Japan have ever scored at a World Cup — and Ayase Ueda lashed in from the top of the box on 31 minutes for a 2–0 half-time lead, before Ueda set up Junya Ito for a one-on-one finish in the 69th minute and headed in a fourth in the 83rd minute.

Ueda was named Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match after his two goals and an assist, as Japan controlled the contest with 62% possession, 11 shots and five on target while Tunisia managed just two attempts and none on target. New Tunisia coach Hervé Renard, appointed earlier in the week, could not inspire a response from a side that has now shipped nine goals in two games.

The result is the joint-largest winning margin by an Asian nation at a World Cup and moves Japan level with the Netherlands at the top of Group F on four points. Tunisia are eliminated with zero points. Japan face Sweden in Dallas on 25 June, while Tunisia meet the Netherlands in Kansas City on the same evening.