HAMILTON, New Zealand –

Former champion Japan romped to a 5-0 over Zambia in its Women's World Cup opener at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Saturday, outclassing the debutant Africans with a slick display of pass-and-move soccer.

Hinata Miyazawa scored twice and fellow forward Mina Tanaka found the net in the second half after having two earlier efforts called back for offside by video replay.

Winger Jun Endo added the fourth in the 71st minute and substitute Riko Ueki got the fifth from a penalty in stoppage time after Zambia goalkeeper Catherine Musonda had been dismissed for receiving two yellow cards.

"Today's goal was to win, and I'm glad we were able to do that," Japan captain Saki Kumagai said. "Scoring five goals and keeping a clean sheet will give us confidence.

"For this first game I told our younger players that the veterans would back them up and that they just needed to go out there, enjoy themselves and get it done."

Champion at the 2011 World Cup and runner-up in 2015, Japan lined up in an attacking 3-5-1 formation and looked like a team on a mission from the start.

The Nadeshiko had already drawn two fine saves from Musonda, hit the post, and had a Tanaka goal ruled out before Miyazawa struck for the first time in the 43rd minute.

Playmaker Yui Hasegawa sent Aoba Fujino racing down the right flank and the winger curled a beautiful cross into the box which Miyazawa lashed into the net.

Tanaka had another goal chalked off for offside in the 49th minute and VAR also called back a penalty awarded to Japan a couple of minutes later.

Thai-born striker Tanaka finally got a goal that counted in the 55th minute, sliding Endo's cross from the left into the right corner of the net.

Tanaka also got the assist on Miyazawa's second goal in the 62nd minute, pulling the ball back from the byline to allow her teammate the simplest of finishes.

Nadeshiko Japan found space behind the Zambian defense almost at will in the last 20 minutes, and a Hasegawa pass found Endo all on her own — with only Musonda to beat for the fourth goal, 19 minutes from time.

Ueki needed two attempts to convert the late penalty that saw Musonda sent off, with substitute goalkeeper Eunice Sakala saving the first but penalized for encroachment.

Zambia captain Barbra Banda, who scored the winner when the debutants beat two-time World Cup winners Germany two weeks ago, struck an isolated figure up front, and the Africans did not register a single shot at goal.

Japan joins Spain, which beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Wellington on Friday, at the top of Group C ahead of its second match of the tournament against the Central Americans in Dunedin on Wednesday.