LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Japan routed Mexico 4-0 Friday on a hat trick by Homare Sawa to reach the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup for the second time.
Sawa, playing in her fifth World Cup, opened the scoring in the 13th minute before a crowd of 22,291 at Bay Arena. The 32-year-old captain added her second goal in the 39th after Shinobu Ohno had made it 2-0 in the 15th. Sawa had plenty of room in the 80th minute when she was set up by Yukari Kinga to complete her hat trick.
In Group B’s late game in Dresden, England and New Zealand need a win to have any realistic hope of advancing. Mexico is in danger of elimination.
