Japan’s World Cup off despite a joke penalty
Sweden barely survives wild final phase
08/11/2023 11:44 am
For a long time it looked like Sweden would win the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup, but then the big tremors began: Japan missed a penalty, then they were very unlucky and scored. In an eternal stoppage time, however, no more goals are scored.
The Japanese national team, which has been so convincing so far, was surprisingly eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. In the 1:2 (0:1) against Sweden, Honoka Hayashi’s goal came too late (87th minute) after Riko Ueki had previously put a penalty on the crossbar (76th). Amanda Ilestedt (32′) and Filippa Angeldal (51’/penalty) scored for the overall better Swedes in front of 43,217 spectators in Auckland. In the semifinals next Tuesday, coach Peter Gerhardsson’s team will also meet Spain in Auckland (10 a.m. CEST).
With the elimination of the Japanese, the last team that was world champion at least once was eliminated. From the start, the Swedes gave the Japanese hardly any room for their dreaded combinations. While the 2011 world champion had little offensive ideas, Sweden’s attacks seemed more compelling. Stina Blackstenius missed the first good chance after a long ball, Ilestedt did better just before the break. After a free kick, the defender hit the lead from the crowd. Her fourth tournament goal was the first she scored with a foot.
Kosovare Asllani missed the 2-0 before the break, her shot only hitting the inside post of the Japanese goal. Another solid shot from Rytting Kaneryd was well parried by Ayaka Yamashita, but the following corner resulted in a hand penalty for Sweden. Angeldal converted safely.
On the other side, the fouled Ueki missed a more than flattering penalty for Japan, which came up with power again in the final phase. Kiko Seike circled a free kick to the crossbar, the ball bounced off the post from goalkeeper Zecira Musovic and then rolled along in front of the line. Seconds later, substitute Haysashi reduced the lead to 1:2. But the equalizer didn’t want to fall anymore.