Arsenal Defender, Amanda Ilestedt scored the curtain raiser from the fourth blocked free kick by the Japanese Defenders which rebound rolled to her and her bullet shot went through a forest of legs into goal. It was her 4th goal at the tournament as she scored two goals against Italy and one against South Africa.
The Swedish second goal was from a penalty from a corner kick that went up the arms of Nagano. VAR had to stop the game and upon verification, Manchester City’s Filippa Angeldel who is using a pain killer to play the match having received a knock in the round of 16 neatly tucked in the penalty at 51st minute.
Sweden’s dream of a new world record of four consecutive clean sheets in a single tournament was first threatened by a penalty kick awarded Japan when Janogy brought down Ueki who plays like Dr. Felix Owolabi of Nigeria and Shooting Stars, very difficult to be brought down in the box,. The resultant penalty kick by Ueki was played into the cross bar and was saved. Hayashi who came from the bench made it 2-1.
The dent to the dream came in the 87th minute when Sweden failed to clear their lines neatly in a goal mouth scramble and West Ham United player, Hanoka
Japan mounted insurmountable pressure on the Swedish Defence especially in the last 20 minutes of the game but the Swiss babes survived the onslaught. It became the second time lost in the knockout stages of the world cup against European opponents as the Tigresses of Asia lost to Netherlands in 2019. And the Japanese wept refusing to be consoled like the woman who wept in the Biblical Rama for her children. They were gallant in battle.
Sweden has now made their 5th semifinal at the world cup. It is the first time Sweden will reach consecutive semifinals in 2019 and 2023.
SWEDEN WILL MEET SPAIN IN THE FIRST SEMIFINAL ON TUESDAY 15TH AUGUST AT EDEN PARK IN AUCKLAND AT 0900 HOURS.
Japan with nickname Nadeshiko is making her 9th appearance and were champions in 2011 at Germany where she beat USA 3-1 on penalties after 2-2 draw; were Silver Medalists at Canada 2015 where she lost to USA 5-2 at Vancouver; made quarterfinal at Sweden 1995 and the round of 16 at France 2019.
Sweden the giant killers defeated USA 5-4 on penalties after a goalless full time in the round of 16. Earlier on 23rd July defeated South Africa 2-1 on 23rd July; pounded Italy 5-0on 29th July and also crashed Argentina 2-0 on 2nd August all in the group matches.
Sweden never won the trophy; they were runners-up at USA 2003 and lost to Germany 1-2 at extra time. Sweden won Bronze three times at China 1991; Germany 2011 and France 2019. She was at the quarterfinals twice at Sweden 1995 and USA 1999 but was also at the round of 16 at Canada 2015.
Both sides met at the 2011 world cup on 13th July and Japan won 3-1; Japan won again on 20th June 2012 1-0; both played goalless draw on 28th July 2012; Japan rallied a win 2-1 on 10th March 2014; Sweden won on 21st July 2016; on 20th August 2020 Japan again won 2-0 and on 30th July 2021 Sweden was victorious 3-1.
It is their fourth quarterfinal of Japan at the world cup. Japan lost 0-4 to USA in 1995; won 1-0 over Germany in 2011 and got 1-0 victory over Canada in 2015.
Japan has lost five of six games played at the world cup knockout stages against European sides with the only defeat from Netherlands 1-2 in the round of 16 at France 2019.
Sweden is playing her 7th quarterfinal match at the world cup. Only USA and Germany both in eight appearances beat their record.
The other two quarterfinal matches shall be decided on Saturday August 12. Co-hosts Australia will slug it out with France at Suncorp Stadium at 0800 hours with South African Ref, Victor Gomes in charge.
At 1130 hours plying at Stadium Australia will be the Lionesses of England that defeated Nigeria and the Power-Puff girls of Columbia with Ref Mark Geiger of USA in charge.
By Eniola Olatunji
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