2023-08-11 11:28:00
Sweden triumphed over Japan (2-1) on Friday in Auckland in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup. The Swedes will face Spain in the semi-finals on August 15.
Published on: 08/11/2023 – 11:28
3 mn
The Swedes continue their advance. After defeating the United States in the round of 16, Sweden (3rd nation in the FIFA rankings) triumphed over Japan (11th) on Friday August 11 in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup (2-1) at Eden Park, in Auckland.
During the first quarter of an hour, the two teams put their game in place: keeping the ball, attempts to overflow on the sides, attempts to break through, technical mastery… But no clear chance on both sides, despite pressing. The reason: a solid defensive block on both sides.
We have to wait until the 25th minute to see the first real chance of the match. She is for Sweden. Stina Blackstenius takes advantage of a confusion in the Japanese defense after a long ball addressed from the Swedish camp to try to open the scoring. The Swedish striker takes the upper hand but sees her attempt miss Ayaka Yamashita’s goals.
The situation is unblocked in the 32nd minute. A set piece for Sweden causes a mess in the Japanese defense. This mess benefits Amanda Ilestedt, who opens the scoring: 1-0 for Sweden. The Swedish defender scored her fourth goal of the tournament.
Ten minutes later, the Swedes were close to doubling the lead – in the 42nd minute after a half-volley shot from Kosovare Asllani which concluded a good collective sequence. But Ayaka Yamashita deflects the ball, helped by her post. The score does not change until half-time.
Japanese pressure
The Swedes went on the attack again at the start of the second period (47′). Ayaka Yamashita makes a classy save after a powerful strike from Johanna Kaneyrid. In the seconds that followed, the referee called on the video assistance and whistled a penalty for the Swedes after a handball error by Fuka Nagano in the Japanese area. Filippa Angeldal transforms it (51st). 2-0 for Sweden.
The Japanese try to come back to score and put pressure on Sweden in the minutes that follow, like Aoba Fujino (71st) who strikes across the Swedish box but is pushed back by Zecira Musovic, heroine of his team against in the USA.
This pressure eventually paid off. In the 75th minute, when the referee awards a penalty to Japan after a foul on Riko Ueki. The latter rushes, and sees her shot, powerful, crashing on the crossbar and bounces. The ball does not cross the line. Still 2 goals to 0 for the players of Peter Gerhardsson.
The Japanese continue to put pressure, in the 86th minute, a direct free kick taken by Aoba Fujino ends up on the crossbar and bounces off Zecira Musovic then on the post without the ball crossing the line. Futoshi Ikeda’s players ended up reducing the score in the seconds that followed thanks to Honoka Hayashi, who took advantage of a ball badly dismissed by the Swedish defense (87th). A reduction in the score which revives this quarter-final.
The Japanese are pushing to snatch extra time, after being dominated for much of the game. But the score will no longer move. The Swedes win.
As in 2019, Sweden returns to the semi-finals. She will find Spain there on Tuesday 15 August. La Roja won, a little earlier, against the Netherlands with the score of 2 goals to 1.
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