Women’s World Cup: Japan beats Ecuador, 1-0, to sweep group play

Yuki Ogimi scored in the fifth minute and defending champion Japan beat Ecuador, 1-0, on Tuesday in Winnipeg, Canada, to become the first team to win all three of its matches in the group stage of this year’s Women’s World Cup.

Japan won Group C and will play in the round of 16 on June 23 in Vancouver, Canada. Brazil, which plays Wednesday, is the only other team with a chance to go 3-0 in the group stage.

It was the 54th international goal for the 27-year-old Ogimi. Her shot from close range bounced in off the crossbar after the ball had been deflected toward an open net.

Ecuador, which was outscored, 16-1, in losses to Cameroon and Switzerland, kept this one close until the end.

Cameroon 2, Switzerland 1: Madeleine Ngono Mani came off the bench to score one of two second-half goals at Edmonton as Cameroon became only the second African team to advance to the knockout stage.

Cameroon (2-0-1) advances as the second team from Group C, doing so in its first World Cup appearance.

Switzerland (1-0-2) led, 1-0, after the first half behind a goal from Ana Maria Crnogorcevic in the 24th minute, and it controlled the action for much of the half.

However, Cameroon equalized on a powerful right-footed strike by Gabrielle Onguene in the 47th minute. Mani, who came off the bench in the 57th minute, followed with her 40th career goal five minutes later for the win.

Australia 1, Sweden 1: Lisa De Vanna’s early goal was enough for Australia to advance to the knockout stage in draw at Edmonton.

It’s the third straight World Cup in which Australia (1-1-1) has advanced past the group stage. It is the second team behind the United States in Group D.

De Vanna put Australia up, 1-0, in the fifth minute with a left-footed goal coming after a breakaway behind the Swedish defense.

Sweden (0-3-0) tied the game in the 15th minute on a left-footed strike from just outside the penalty box by Sofia Jakobsson. Caroline Seger had a shot on goal following a corner in the 25th minute for Sweden, but Australian goalkeeper Lydia Williams made the save.