It took the Young Nadeshiko a while to get used to Ghana's physicality, but with expert passing they relentlessly pressured their opponents and were ultimately able to break through.

Japan asserted themselves from the start, with Shinomi Koyama playing a long through ball to Manaka Matsukubo, whose shot missed the target after just four minutes.

With intricate passing and build-up play they consistently put pressure on Ghana, yet the African also looked dangerous when they were able to pry the ball away from their opponents.

Japan came close to making the breakthrough after Ghana goalkeeper Afi Amenyeku parried Matsukubo’s shot and Chinari Sasai pounced on the rebound, but from an offside position.

Japan were then forced to make an early substitution, with the injured Hiromi Yoneda forced off after 25 minutes.

The East Asian side ramped up the pressure towards the end of the first half and finally went ahead on 45 minutes.

Amenyeku saved the initial shot from Hayama but was unable to control the ball as Sasai pounced to provide a composed finish in the 45th minute.

Matsukubo then doubled their advantage when she finished from a sharp angle in added on time, the ball slipping through Amenyeku's grasp, as Japan went to the break with a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, Japan picked up where they left off; Koyama playing a through ball to Hayama on the left wing who provided a tidy, low, finish in the 50th minute.

In the 83rd minute, Stella Nyamekye pulled one back for Ghana from the penalty spot after Raika Okamura brought her down in the box. Miyu Matsunaga added a late goal for Japan to make it 4-1.

Japan will face Austria in their final group match on Sunday while Ghana meet New Zealand.