Sweden joined Spain in the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup, after their success against Japan (2-1) on Friday in Auckland, where their defense extinguished the best attack of the tournament so far.
The Swedes, who scored through Amanda Ilestedt (32e) and Filippa Angeldahl (51e on penalty shot), reach the last four for the fifth time in nine appearances.
“It’s a great feeling to go to the semi-finals. Our performance was outstanding today,” said Ilestedt, player of the game.
The Japanese, who came back through Honoka Hayashi (87e), pushed in vain during the ten minutes of additional time to snatch the extension. Sweden has achieved the feat of having eliminated the last two world champion selections, the United States double defending champions in the round of 16 (0-0 after, 5-4 on pens), then Japan, crowned in 2011.
Goalkeeper Zecira Musovic’s teammates are banking on their defense to earn their first star.
Deserving Japanese
Despite the elimination, Japan, which relies on a group among the youngest in the competition, have made an appointment with the future.
“The players have grown during this World Cup. They have shown what they can do at world level,” said Japanese coach Futoshi Ikeda.
“We lost, but we have to analyze positively what the players did. I’m proud to have come this far.”
It is an opponent with a profile similar to the Japanese who awaits Sweden in the semi-finals next Tuesday in Auckland: Spain, full of talented players inclined to attack.
La Roja beat the Netherlands after extra time (2-1 ap), earlier in the day.
The Scandinavians tipped the game over two consecutive situations at a set piece.
Following a free kick, Ilestedt opened the scoring by taking advantage of a mess in front of Ayaka Yamashita’s goal.
The Arsenal defender scored her fourth goal of the competition, which put her on the heels of the tournament’s top scorer, Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa (5 goals).
From the start of the second half, Fuka Nagano touched the ball with his hand, on a corner.
Verdict: penalty shot, converted by Angeldahl. Led 2-0, Japan played their all-out late in the game. Musovic was vigilant on Ueki’s header (90e+1), on the main Japanese opportunity.
Finalists in 2003, the Swedes held on to secure a fifth semi-final in nine appearances.
