Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Edmonton: Reigning champions Japan advanced to the semi-finals of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Saturday with a 1-0 defeat of Australia, a scoreline that mirrored the Nadeshiko’s victory over the Matildas in last year’s AFC Women's Asian Cup final.
Japan dominated possession and showed the most attacking impetus in all-Asian encounter that was settled with just three minutes of regulation time at the Commonwealth Stadium left to play when substitute Mana Iwabuchi scored the deciding goal.
Shinobu Ohno twice came close to breaking the deadlock, first when she lifted the ball just over the crossbar after superbly controlling a long ball before the striker flicked a cross from INAC Kobe Leonessa team-mate Nahomi Kawasumi just wide at the near post after Australia had surrendered possession in midfield.
Australia started the second half the sharper of the two sides with Ayumi Kaihori needing to be alert to save a Samantha Kerr shot from outside the box before Emily Van Egmond was narrowly off target just sixty seconds after the livewire Kerr had tested the Japanese keeper.
Japan soon regained the initiative and after skipper Aya Miyama had came close with an audacious flick and Yuki Ogimi had volleyed Kawasumi’s cross narrowly wide, the World and Asian champions finally broke the deadlock through two-time AFC Women’s Youth Player of the Year Iwabuchi.
On in the 72nd minute to replace Ohno, Bayern Munich striker Iwabuchi fired home from close range after the Matildas had failed to deal with corner kick, which had been won after keeper Lydia Williams had kept out a shot from Azusa Iwashimizu, who scored the winning goal when the two sides contested the 2014 AFC Asian Cup final in Vietnam.
Japan will remain in Edmonton to continue the defence of their FIFA Women’s World Cup title on July 1 with a final four meeting against England, who edged hosts Canada 2-1 in their quarter-final clash in Vancouver.
Photo: FIFA/Getty Images