Japan rout Tunisia 4-0 in World Cup’s 1,000th match

Kamada and Ueda inspire emphatic victory as Japan move to the brink of the knockout stage and Tunisia bow out after a second straight defeat.

Japan delivered a commanding 4-0 win over Tunisia in the World Cup's 1,000th match on Saturday to move to the brink of the knockout stages, while the North Africans were eliminated after a second successive defeat in Group F.

Daichi Kamada opened the scoring ⁠after four minutes, bundling home Keito Nakamura's low cross from close range, before Ayase Ueda doubled Japan's lead in the 30th minute with a fierce low drive into the far corner.

Japan stayed in control after the break and Ueda set up Junya Ito for their ⁠third with a lofted pass before heading in his second of the night from a deep cross, making Japan the first Asian side to ⁠score four goals in a World Cup match.

Japan join the Netherlands on four points, with Tunisia, playing ⁠their first game under new coach Herve Renard after a 5-1 loss to Sweden, ⁠becoming the tournament's third eliminated side, joining Haiti and Turkey.