Fifa Women’s World Cup: Sweden looking to ‘go all the way’ after defeating Japan in quarter-final clash
- ‘We are not satisfied with the semi-finals,’ Sweden skipper Kosovare Asllani says after her side survive light fightback
- Japan were the last former title-holders in the tournament, meaning a new champion will be crowned on August 20
Sweden sent another former champion side packing when they hung on to end Japan’s strong run at the Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 victory on Friday and reach the semi-finals for a fifth time.
Amanda Ilestedt smashed home the opener in the 32nd minute in Auckland and Filippa Angeldal converted a 51st-minute penalty to set Sweden on course.
But the Scandinavians then needed to overcome a nervy finale as Riko Ueki fired a penalty against the crossbar, Aoba Fujino also hit the bar with a free-kick, and Hayashi Honoka’s 87th-minute goal eventually came too late to force a turnaround.
Japan were the last former champions in the tournament, meaning a new champion will be crowned on August 20.
For Sweden, it was a second straight prestigious victory after they ousted record four-time champions the United States on penalties in the round of 16.
In their semi-final on Tuesday in Auckland, Sweden will face Spain, who beat 2016 runners-up Netherlands 2-1 in extra time earlier in the day.
Sweden previously reached the semis on four occasions, winning only in 2003 before losing the final to Germany. They finished third in 1991, 2011 and 2019.