In a balanced opening half, both sides found the target but each effort was ruled out for offside.

In the swirling wind, Japan twice came close to scoring from high, looping corners early in the second period — first when Zambia defender Precious Mwape headed Noa Fukushima's set-piece off the goalline, and then as goalkeeper Loveness Chingwele blocked a close-range header from Yunao Aoki.

Japan seized the initiative when Honoka Sunaga latched onto the ball just outside the area following a corner and the rising effort flew past Chingwele into the top of the net in the 69th minute.

Chingwele was then shown a red card in the closing stages after she lost control of the ball in the area and bundled over substitute forward Nanami Taira, with Fukushima converting the resulting spot-kick in the 86th minute to confirm Japan's spot in the next round.

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