Hinata Miyazawa grabbed two goals to become the tournament's leading scorer as former champions Japan put on a counter-attacking clinic to beat Spain 4-0 in Wellington and lock up top spot in Group C at the Women's World Cup on Monday.

Striker Riko Ueki also scored on the break as the Nadeshiko cut through Spain's high press with three lightning raids in the first half before substitute Momoko Tanaka added the fourth with another quality strike eight minutes from time.

Japan, winners of the 2011 World Cup and runners-up in 2015, will remain in the New Zealand capital to play Norway in the last 16 on Saturday, while Spain will move north to Auckland to face Switzerland earlier on the same day.

"In the first and second games, we had more time to work with the ball but had to be wary of the counter-attack," said coach Futoshi Ikeda.

"In this match against Spain, we knew we would have to defend for long periods. So we knew we would have to take advantage of every opportunity we had to play the game we wanted to. I think were successful in this."

Both teams had already qualified for the knockout stage after convincing wins in their first two group matches and Japan coach Ikeda made five changes to his side for the clash at Wellington Regional Stadium.

After conceding three first-half goals, Spain came out in the second half with more purpose but for all their possession and more than 900 passes, they were unable to seriously trouble a Japan defence that has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.

"First of all to win matches you must not allow four goals to be scored against you," said Spain coach Jorge Vilda.

"I'm convinced that we're going to change, we have not seen the best of the Spanish team yet. And I'm convinced that against Switzerland, the team will react positively."

In the other Group C match, World Cup debutantes Zambia beat Costa Rica 3-1 in Waikato to avoid finishing bottom. (Reuters)