Japan 1-2 Sweden: World Cup semi-finals beckon as Arsenal and Man City stars score

Sweden produced a powerful efficiency to ebook a semi-final date with Spain and go away Japan’s Girls’s World Cup desires in tatters.

Right here, they fell behind to Amanda Ilestedt’s purpose earlier than Manchester Metropolis midfielder Filippa Angeldahl doubled Sweden’s lead from the penalty spot.

Japan have been then awarded a controversial spot-kick, however Riko Ueki’s 76th-minute try hit the bar, earlier than West Ham’s Honoka Hayashi pulled a purpose again within the 87th minute.

That lifeline got here moments after Aoba Fujino hit the woodwork from a free-kick, however Sweden noticed the sport out to make it into the final 4.

New Arsenal defender Ilestedt has emerged as one of many gamers of the event, and she or he now has 4 targets.

This time she struck from the sting of the six-yard field within the thirty second minute after Japan did not clear.

Goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita stored Japan within the contest when she tipped an try by Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani onto the put up, whereas Stina Blackstenius had earlier missed an excellent likelihood when the sport was goalless.

There no coming again for Japan when Angeldahl doubled the lead after the video assistant referee (VAR) noticed a handball by Japan’s Liverpool midfielder Fuka Nagano.

Japan had shone at this World Cup, scoring 14 occasions of their earlier 4 matches.

However they struggled to check goalkeeper Zecira Musovic typically sufficient at Eden Park as Sweden moved to inside one win of a primary World Cup last since 2003, once they misplaced to Germany within the last in america.

Sweden activate the model

Sweden wanted a last-minute winner to defeat South Africa of their opening sport, whereas they trailed america 3-2 on penalties earlier than eliminating the four-time world champions within the first knockout spherical.

They’ve proven starvation and need to succeed in back-to-back World Cup semi-finals and can fancy their possibilities towards Spain again at Eden Park subsequent Tuesday.

Peter Gerhardsson’s gamers have been using the crest of a wave after eliminating the USA and so they efficiently stifled a Japan aspect who had been scoring targets for enjoyable.

Japan solely got here alive within the closing phases and, even after Hayashi scored, Sweden negotiated the ten minutes of further time.

After enjoying 120 minutes towards the USA 5 days earlier, the Swedes as soon as once more ran themselves into the bottom to deservedly ebook a semi-final spot.

One step too far

Japan have proven they’ll counter-attack and lower by means of opposition defences at tempo all through the event.

But this was one step too far for the Nadeshiko.

They regarded a pale imitation of the aspect that had reached the quarter-finals in model, and obtained their first try on purpose within the 63rd minute.

Regardless of a powerful ending, hopes of reaching a 3rd World Cup last of their most up-to-date 4 makes an attempt have been extinguished by a powerful Sweden.

Japan have been nice entertainers at this event and plenty of of their gamers have been inconsolable on the full-time whistle.

The exit of the 2011 world champions means there can be a brand new World Cup winner.

Regardless of disappointment at going out, Japan boss Futoshi Ikeda targeting positives after the match.

“I noticed my gamers develop at this World Cup,” he stated. “The youthful gamers have to make use of this expertise and take it into the Olympics and different tournaments.

“Going ahead now we have to develop from this.”