By George Ramsay, Ben Church, Jessie Yeung and Tara Subramaniam, CNN
From CNN's Ben Church
Costa Rica almost had a penalty there.
After a loose back pass, Zambia's goalkeeper Catherine Musonda clearly takes out the Costa Rican forward but, after a very long VAR check, the referee spots an offside in the build-up.
Zambia can count itself lucky. Las Ticas have come out in this second half on fire.
From CNN's George Ramsay
With her two first-half goals, Hinata Miyazawa leads the race for the Golden Boot as the top scorer at the Women's World Cup.
She now has four goals, putting her ahead of several players all on three: Brazil's Ary Borges, Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt, Norway's Sophie Haug, and Germany's Alexandra Popp.
The second half is now underway in Wellington as Japan looks to build on its 3-0 lead.
From CNN's Ben Church
Play had barely gotten underway in the second half before Costa Rica halved the deficit.
Melissa Herrera bundles the ball over the line in the 48th minute after Zambia fails to clear the ball properly and the game looks very different all of a sudden.
Not the prettiest goal but one that brings Costa Rica back in this match -- it's also the team's first goal of this year's World Cup.
From CNN's Ben Church
Zambia may be the lowest ranked team at this World Cup, but it's flexing its muscles against Costa Rica.
The world No. 77 could be out of sight already but has wasted a number of good opportunities in front of goal.
Costa Rica struggled to get to grips with the match but has shown a little more promise after going 2-0 down.
The Copper Queens will keep looking to get their talisman Barbra Banda on the ball after the break -- she ran the game for much of the first half and looks a real threat.
From CNN's George Ramsay
Wow, this is ruthless from Japan.
Hinata Miyazawa has her second goal of the game in the 40th minute and Japan's third as she fires into the top of the net.
Spain, one of the pre-tournament favorites, didn't concede a single goal in its first two games. Now, it looks stunned having let in three in a half.
Japan, meanwhile, is in complete control, currently heading into the knockout stages at the top of Group C.
From CNN's Ben Church
Zambia captain Barbra Banda doubles her team's lead from the penalty spot in the 31st minute!
It's a historic moment as well, being the 1,000th goal scored at the Women's World Cup.
It's nothing less than Zambia deserves, with the African nation in full control against Costa Rica.
Banda has been at the heart of everything good her team has done today and Costa Rica is holding on.
From CNN's George Ramsay
Another counter attack, another goal for Japan.
Hinata Miyazawa, the scorer of the first goal of the game, breaks into the Spanish half before finding Riko Ueki, who is able to double Japan's lead in the 29th minute.
Her shot is deflected off defender Irene Paredes and flies beyond the reach of goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez. It's slightly fortunate but Japan, now with a comfortable advantage at the top of Group C, won't care one bit.
Not a bad way for Ueki to celebrate her birthday -- she turned 24 on Sunday.
From CNN's George Ramsay
Japan, one of the most impressive sides at this year's tournament, has taken an early lead to seize control of Group C.
It comes on the break as Hinata Miyazawa gets through on goal and rolls a shot calmly into the net.
As things stand, Japan will finish top of the group and face Norway in the next round, while Spain is currently set to face Switzerland.
That's also the first goal Spain has conceded at the tournament.
From CNN's George Ramsay
There's been a piece of Women's World Cup history early on in the game between Zambia and Costa Rica.
Both teams are playing for pride having lost their opening two games, but Zambia, making its debut at the tournament, finally has something to celebrate: a first Women's World Cup goal.
Lushomo Mweemba gets the goal with a lovely volley from a corner inside the first three minutes. What a moment for Zambia!
Costa Rica almost had a penalty there.
After a loose back pass, Zambia's goalkeeper Catherine Musonda clearly takes out the Costa Rican forward but, after a very long VAR check, the referee spots an offside in the build-up.
Zambia can count itself lucky. Las Ticas have come out in this second half on fire.
With her two first-half goals, Hinata Miyazawa leads the race for the Golden Boot as the top scorer at the Women's World Cup.
She now has four goals, putting her ahead of several players all on three: Brazil's Ary Borges, Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt, Norway's Sophie Haug, and Germany's Alexandra Popp.
The second half is now underway in Wellington as Japan looks to build on its 3-0 lead.
Play had barely gotten underway in the second half before Costa Rica halved the deficit.
Melissa Herrera bundles the ball over the line in the 48th minute after Zambia fails to clear the ball properly and the game looks very different all of a sudden.
Not the prettiest goal but one that brings Costa Rica back in this match -- it's also the team's first goal of this year's World Cup.
Zambia may be the lowest ranked team at this World Cup, but it's flexing its muscles against Costa Rica.
The world No. 77 could be out of sight already but has wasted a number of good opportunities in front of goal.
Costa Rica struggled to get to grips with the match but has shown a little more promise after going 2-0 down.
The Copper Queens will keep looking to get their talisman Barbra Banda on the ball after the break -- she ran the game for much of the first half and looks a real threat.
Wow, this is ruthless from Japan.
Hinata Miyazawa has her second goal of the game in the 40th minute and Japan's third as she fires into the top of the net.
Spain, one of the pre-tournament favorites, didn't concede a single goal in its first two games. Now, it looks stunned having let in three in a half.
Japan, meanwhile, is in complete control, currently heading into the knockout stages at the top of Group C.
Zambia captain Barbra Banda doubles her team's lead from the penalty spot in the 31st minute!
It's a historic moment as well, being the 1,000th goal scored at the Women's World Cup.
It's nothing less than Zambia deserves, with the African nation in full control against Costa Rica.
Banda has been at the heart of everything good her team has done today and Costa Rica is holding on.
Another counter attack, another goal for Japan.
Hinata Miyazawa, the scorer of the first goal of the game, breaks into the Spanish half before finding Riko Ueki, who is able to double Japan's lead in the 29th minute.
Her shot is deflected off defender Irene Paredes and flies beyond the reach of goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez. It's slightly fortunate but Japan, now with a comfortable advantage at the top of Group C, won't care one bit.
Not a bad way for Ueki to celebrate her birthday -- she turned 24 on Sunday.
Japan, one of the most impressive sides at this year's tournament, has taken an early lead to seize control of Group C.
It comes on the break as Hinata Miyazawa gets through on goal and rolls a shot calmly into the net.
As things stand, Japan will finish top of the group and face Norway in the next round, while Spain is currently set to face Switzerland.
That's also the first goal Spain has conceded at the tournament.
There's been a piece of Women's World Cup history early on in the game between Zambia and Costa Rica.
Both teams are playing for pride having lost their opening two games, but Zambia, making its debut at the tournament, finally has something to celebrate: a first Women's World Cup goal.
Lushomo Mweemba gets the goal with a lovely volley from a corner inside the first three minutes. What a moment for Zambia!
