Japan qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-finals courtesy of a convincing 4-0 win over Mexico in Leverkusen. Homare Sawa was an inspirational skipper scoring a hat-trick as Japan raced into a three goal lead by half-time.
Mexico were as good as defeated by the 15th minute as Japan scored twice in quick succession.
Sawa started the rout and two minutes later Shinobu Ohno doubled the Japanese advantage. Just before the break Mexico were given no way back as the captain netted her second.
Sawa earned the match ball ten minutes from the end rounding off a neat team move in front of nearly 23,000 spectators.
