Spain were the first team to book a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-finals, with Japan then doing likewise.
Spain responded to their four-goal final group game defeat against Japan by inflicting a similar result on Switzerland to reach the last eight.
Watched by a record crowd for football in New Zealand of over 43,000, Spain scored early on through Aitana Bonmati and even though Laia Codina soon conceded an own-goal, Alba Redondo had restored the lead with just 17 minutes played.
Bonmati got her second and Codina netted at the right end close to the interval for a 4-1 advantage.
Jenni Hermoso wrapped up the scoring at 5-1 on 70 minutes, as Spain now await the winners of the tie between Netherlands and South Africa.
Japan progressed to a last-eight clash with Sweden or USA after a strong showing against Norway brought a 3-1 victory.
The Nadeshiko scored first when Hinata Miyazawa’s cross deflected off Ingrid Engen to beat keeper Aurora Mikalsen, but five minutes later Vilde Boa Risa crossed for Guro Reiten to head home the leveller,
Japan were back in front soon after the interval aided by Boa Risa’s loose ball, which Risa Shimizu pounced upon to hit past Mikalsen, who was again wrongfooted by a deflection.
Hinata Miyazawa was sent clear by Aoba Fujino to slot home Japan’s third goal, while for Norway Caroline Graham Hansen pulled a good chance wide.
Yoshimi Yamashita protected the two-goal cushion when clawing the ball out from under the bar.
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