August 11 – Sweden’s 2-1 elimination of former champions Japan within the final eight ensures the Ladies’s World Cup may have a brand new identify on the trophy come July 20.

The choose quartet of Japan, america, Norway and Germany have loved a stranglehold on the largest trophy within the sport, sharing the entire eight earlier titles between them, however that’s about to vary in Australia and New Zealand after the Asian aspect and final of the previous champions within the competitors departed. They underwhelmed towards Sweden, who will play Spain for a spot within the ultimate.

In a dramatic second half, Japan rallied late to virtually claw their method again into the sport, a sworn statement to their never-say-die perspective.

Aoba Fujino smacked a free kick towards the woodwork after Riko Ueki had rattled the bar from the penalty spot within the 76th minute and their attacking endeavours had been rewarded with a late strike by Honoka Hayashi, however they may not discover an equaliser in ten minutes of harm time.

Finally, the Japanese had woken up too late. That they had dazzled of their first 4 video games, together with a 4-0 win towards Spain, however fell quick in uncharacteristic vogue, typically annoyed by the strong Swedish defence.

The Swedish dominated massive chunks of the match. Their Thirty second-minute opening aim had a component of slapstick with the ball pinballing round within the Japanese field earlier than Amanda Ilestedt stabbed it into the again of the online. Japanese goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita punched the ball away earlier than Blackstenius pinged it again in and Eriksson had three stabs on the ball earlier than it got here to Ilestedt’s toes. It was Ilestedt’s fourth aim of the match, only one aim behind Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa within the Golden Boot race.

It was a press release from the Scandinavians following their win towards america. The Japanese had been in a spot they’d not but been on this match – trailing and for a lot of the primary half they appeared spooked, overwhelmed by the swagger and gusto of Sweden.

It was Sweden’s finest half of the match but and Kosovare Asllani riffled off a shot that Yamashita saved earlier than it rebounded off the put up.

Sweden survived Japan’s late waves of assaults and shall be assured of reaching the World Cup for the second time of their historical past after dropping to Germany to a golden aim in 2003 in america, the final event by which the ultimate was disputed with out former champions.

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