Center-back Ilestedt scored just after 30 minutes at Eden Park in Auckland to give Sweden a deserved lead. This was the first time Japan was losing in the World Cup. Angeldal made it 2-0 with a penalty seven minutes into the second half. Japan tried to come back, but Ueki missed a penalty, and Hayashi scored a goal with three minutes left in regular time. Despite a late surge from Japan, Sweden held on to win and move to the semi-finals. This is the third time in four World Cups that Sweden has reached this stage. Japan, who were champions in 2011, are now out of the tournament. This means that none of the previous winners like the United States, Germany, and Norway are left in the competition. A new team will win the trophy after the final in Sydney next weekend.
To reach the final, Sweden, who came in second place in 2003, needs to win a semi-final match in Auckland next Tuesday against Spain. Spain won against the Netherlands with a score of 2-1 earlier on Friday in Wellington.
The match was described as a big showdown between two different playing styles: a smooth and precise Japan versus a tougher and more aggressive Sweden.
Peter Gerhardsson’s Swedish team took the game to their opponents, who sat back in a 5-4-1 out of possession but were rarely given the space to spring forward on the counterattack like they had done to such devastating effect in previous rounds.
Japan had started to dream of a run to match their remarkable triumph in 2011 but instead find themselves eliminated at the hands of the same team that beat them in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics two years ago.
The opener arrived in the 32nd minute following a set-piece, exactly the scenario where the Japanese had been expected to struggle against their more physically imposing opponents.
The Nadeshiko failed to clear their lines as a free-kick dropped in their box, and the ball eventually fell to Ilestedt to stab into the roof of the net after her centre-back partner Magdalena Eriksson had an effort blocked.
Ilestedt, who has just signed for Arsenal, had already netted three times in the group phase and is, remarkably, a contender to win the golden boot with current leading scorer Hinata Miyazawa, on five goals, now out.
Miyazawa had minimal impact on the match as Sweden maintained control, and they came close to scoring once more before halftime. Sweden’s captain, Kosovare Asllani, had a shot saved by Japan’s goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, hitting the post. Yamashita continued her impressive performance after the break, stopping a shot from Johanna Kaneryd. However, a subsequent corner kick proved decisive as Fuka Nagano’s handball in her own box was detected by the referee following a review. Angeldal of Manchester City converted the resulting penalty, sending Yamashita the opposite way, securing Sweden’s second goal.
Japan persevered and earned a penalty opportunity in the 76th minute, as Ueki, a substitute, went down following minimal contact from Madelen Janogy. Although the penalty was awarded rather easily, Ueki couldn’t capitalize, as her shot hit the underside of the crossbar and went out.
The goal frame came to Sweden’s rescue once more in the 87th minute, when Aoba Fujino’s impressive free-kick struck the crossbar, rebounded off goalkeeper Zecira Musovic’s back, and then hit the post.
However, just moments later, Japan managed to pull a goal back. Eriksson’s inability to handle Kiko Seike’s cross led to Hayashi seizing the opportunity and finding the net, injecting the match with intense excitement for the final moments.