Japan scored its 14th aim of the Girls’s World Cup and conceded its first Saturday, beating Norway 3-1 to succeed in the quarterfinals for the fourth time.
Hinata Miyazawa sealed the win along with her fifth aim of the event within the 81st minute to stay the main scorer. Risa Shimizu’s Fiftieth-minute aim adopted an Ingrid Syrstad Engen personal aim within the first half to assist in giving Japan its fourth straight win of the event.
Guro Reiten headed an excellent aim for Norway within the twenty first minute to finish Japan’s flawless defensive efficiency and depart the groups locked 1-1 a halftime.
After beating Spain 4-0 with solely 23% of possession in its group-stage finale, Japan as soon as once more was a tactical chameleon within the spherical of 16 — enjoying with greater than 60% of possession in a commanding efficiency.
Japan traded its common blue uniform for pastel colours Saturday, pink and purple. The softer shade scheme did nothing to boring its attacking model; it pressed ahead from the beginning and had its first nook after two minutes.
Whereas it was ineffective, it was an early declaration of intent. With lengthy balls or sharp, fast passing, Japan regularly pressed ahead and Norway, which conceded just one aim in group play, usually appeared rattled on the again.
When the protection lastly yielded, it was in uncommon circumstances. Within the fifteenth minute Miyazawa curled the ball in from depth on the left and Engen prolonged her leg to parry the ball. She managed solely to deflect it vast of Aurora Mikalsen in aim for the eighth personal aim of the event.
Japan appeared effectively on high however within the twenty first minute, and from the primary time within the match Norway had threatened, Vilda Boe Rise obtained away on the best, took the ball to the byline and crossed to the center the place Guro Reiten stood tall and headed vast of the diving Ayaka Yamashita into the left nook.
The aim got here completely in opposition to the run of play. After a half-hour, Japan had 183 accomplished passes to Norway’s 88, had greater than 60%, 5 photographs on aim. Miyazawa, Aoba Fujino, Jun Endo and others had been threatening.
Shimizu’s winner got here within the Fiftieth minute as Japan pushed ahead once more from midway. Miyazawa tried to carry up the ball close to aim, misplaced possession to Boe Risa, who tried a again go however rolled the ball into the trail of Shimizu speeding in from the best to attain.
Miyazawa produced a copybook end within the 81st, operating onto an excellent by means of ball and directing her shot vast of Mikalsen.
Norway and Japan had met solely as soon as earlier than at a World Cup, in 1999, when Norway gained 4-0.
This story has been revealed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.
