Women's World Cup: Sweden defeat Japan 2-1 to enter semifinals

Sweden first knocked off defending champions United States and then defeated Japan to book a spot in the semifinals of the Womens World CupThe Swedes the World Cup runnersup in 2003 and threetime thirdplace finishers eliminated previously unbeaten Japan 21 in Fridays quarterfinal With Japan out of the lineup the team that emerges victorious in this years World Cup final will be a firsttime winnerAmanda Ilestedt scored a firsthalf goal and Filippa Angeldal converted a secondhalf penalty to give Sweden the mild upset and send the Swedes to the semifinals for the fifth time Japan had been so prolific with 14 goals in rolling to a 40 record but seemed out of it with Sweden up 20 late in the secondJapan finally made a late comeback and seriously pressured Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic who is fresh off a World Cup record 11 saves in the win over the United StatesRiko Uekis penalty attempt for Japan in the 76th minute hit the crossbar and bounced clear of the goal but Musovic was finally beaten in the 86th minute when substitute Honoka Hayashi cut Swedens lead to 21That was all the Japanese mustered as Sweden advanced to play Spain in the semifinals Tuesday at Eden Park in Auckland Spain beat the Netherlands 21 in extra time earlier Friday Japan had beaten Spain 40 in group playJapans exit means there will be a firsttime winner at this World Cup Japan won in 2011 and previous winners Germany Norway and the United States were all eliminated earlier in the tournamentIlestedt broke through for Sweden in the 32nd minute off a free kick that ricocheted among the players in front of the goal before landing at her feet for the goal It was the defenders fourth of the World CupAlso Read Womenrsquos football on the rise and for the betterAngeldal added the penalty kick in the 51st minute after Fuka Naganos handball in the box was confirmed by video reviewJapans run in the World Cup ended with 14 goals more than any team left in the tournament Hinata Miyazawa finished with five of those goals to lead the Golden Boot race matching the team record set by Homare Sawa in Japans 2011 title runSweden was riding high after eliminating the twotime defending champion USA on penalties following a scoreless draw on Sunday The victory came by just millimeters when goalline technology showed that Lina Hurtigs attempt crossed the line before it could be saved by American goalkeeper Alyssa NaeherThe game was a clash of styles from the start thirdranked Sweden was more physical while Japan was more technical Sweden dominated possession for much of the match and had the better chancesStina Blackstenius beat a defender Saki Kumagai and faced Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita oneonone in the 25th minute but her shot went wideAfter Ilestedts goal Kosovare Asllani nearly doubled the lead in the 42nd minute but her blast from the top of the box was pushed away by a diving YamashitaAngeldals penalty appeared to rattle the Japanese who struggled against the taller and more athletic Swedes Japan didnt get a shot off until the 63rd minute Japan had scored at least twice in each of its previous games but had never come back from down two goals in World Cup playWith AP inputs