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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>World champions Spain go behind in Olympic opener</li><li>Japan wonderkid Fujino scores incredible free-kick</li><li>Strike sure to be a goal of the tournament contender</li></ul>

VIDEO: Aoba Fujino, take a bow! Japan wonderkid stuns Spain with sensational free-kick in Olympic opener just 12 months on from shock win over World Cup champions

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/spain-queens-world-football-winners-losers-aitana-bonmati-england-lioneeses-lucy-bronze-world-cup-final/blt04b557c79149dd42" target="_blank">Spain won the World Cup last summer</a> and, as such, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/olympic-paris-2024-womens-football-power-rankings/blt04a01ffdcb8324f7" target="_blank">went into the Games as the overwhelming favourites to win gold</a>. However, the first match in France was always going to be a tricky one, as they came up against <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/pain-spain-ruthless-japan-expose-flaws-la-roja-ranks-hinata-miyazawa-steals-spotlight-alexia-putellas-4-0-win/blt4f7b6866bb728520" target="_blank">a Japan team that thumped them 4-0 in the group stages just 12 months ago</a>. It only took 13 minutes for them to go behind in this rematch, too, as 20-year-old Fujino broke the deadlock with an incredible goal.

WHAT HAPPENED?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Take a bow Aoba Fujino! 🤩 The forward's wonder goal has given Japan the lead over World Champions Spain! 💥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBCOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBCOlympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/avC1qIosIV">pic.twitter.com/avC1qIosIV</a>— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1816494289985118696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">¡GOLAZOOOOO! ¡VAYA GOLAZO DE TIRO LIBRE! 🤯 Aoba Fujino cobra excelente la pelota parada y ya lo ganan las japonesas 💣 🇪🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Espa%C3%B1a?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#España</a> 0-1 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jap%C3%B3n?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Japón</a> 🇯🇵 📺 Peacock ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/XBkIUXNub2">https://t.co/XBkIUXNub2</a> 📱 Telemundo APP ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/gAS2jp9pcP">https://t.co/gAS2jp9pcP</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlimpicosTelemundo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlimpicosTelemundo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParisOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParisOlympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/a0bu0QtVjE">pic.twitter.com/a0bu0QtVjE</a>— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TelemundoSports/status/1816492800462168331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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WATCH THE CLIP

Unfortunately for Japan, it didn't take long for Spain to respond. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/aitana-bonmati-ballon-dor-barcelona-spain-overdue-recognition/blta342d649853bcae4" target="_blank">Last year's Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati</a> was able to cap a nice team move with a cool finish only nine minutes after Fujino's strike, to level the scores at 1-1. In the second half, the world champions then took the lead through Mariona Caldentey's superb goal, one which ensured a 2-1 victory.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Fujino still plays her club football at home but a report from <a href="https://www.sponichi.co.jp/soccer/news/2024/06/10/kiji/20240610s00002000085000c.html" target="_blank">Sponichi</a> in June suggested that she was soon to join Manchester City. It's a transfer that would see her link-up with Yui Hasegawa, her Japan team-mate.

DID YOU KNOW?

Japan will have been disappointed with their quarter-final exit at last year's World Cup but, with a young squad that is more experienced 12 months ago, they will fancy their chances of having a good run at this Olympics. The Nadeshiko face Brazil in their second match, on Sunday, July 28.

WHAT NEXT FOR FUJINO AND JAPAN?

VIDEO: Aoba Fujino, take a bow! Japan wonderkid stuns Spain with sensational free-kick in Olympic opener just 12 months on from shock win over World Cup champions | Goal.com

Japan wonderkid Aoba Fujino stunned Spain in the Olympic women&apos;s football tournament as her superb free-kick put the world champions on the back foot.