VANCOUVER – Defending champions Japan are the first to go through to the last 16 of soccer’s Women’s World Cup, with a 2-1 win over Group C rivals Cameroon.
Aya Sameshima and Yuika Sugasawa sealed the Saturday victory in Vancouver, seeing the Nadeshiko through to the knockout stage with a game to spare.
Japan have six points from two games, having also beaten Switzerland 1-0, with the Swiss on three after whipping Ecuador 10-1 on Friday.
Cameroon, who beat Ecuador 6-0 on Monday, are also on three points while the winless South Americans are the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup.
The United States, among the tournament favourites, were held 0-0 by Sweden.