![]() First, captain Sakai Kumagai gave away an unnecessary free kick in a dangerous area. The first Swedish goal in the 32nd minute was a litany of Japanese errors. Their players were getting muscled off the ball in midfield and Sweden were covering the spaces well. The Asian side were trying to knit together their passing game but it wasn’t easy. Japan’s best first-half chance came moments later but a dinked cross eluded two players at the far post. Sweden should have gone ahead in the 24th minute, but Stina Blackstenius poked her shot wide of the near post, with the goal at her mercy. From the start they showed a willingness to pass into tight spaces as they tried to draw the Swedish press in.īut the Europeans didn’t bite, staying compact and organised. ![]() They started with plenty of fizz, with their passing and movement, along with some inventive corners and free-kick routines. ![]() It will be a tough result to take for Japan, who had lit up the past fortnight. However fellow substitute Hayashi Honoka tucked home a rebound 10 minutes later to provide a grandstand finishīut Sweden hung on and will face Spain in Tuesday’s semifinal at Eden Park. Japan couldn’t get much going until the last half hour and missed the chance to get on the board in the 76th minute when Riko Ueki’s penalty was denied by the crossbar.
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