Japan knocked defending champions Germany out of the women’s World Cup on Saturday, beating the hosts 1-0 after extra-time to advance to their first semi-finals, while France needed a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout to get past England.
Japan’s winning goal in Wolfsburg came in the 108th minute when captain Homare Sawa put in a superb long-range pass and substitute Karina Maruyama drilled past Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.
Despite France dominating for most of their quarter-final game in Leverkusen, Jill Scott had put England ahead after 59 minutes, before Elise Bussaglia equalized with two minutes to go for a 1-1 score after extra-time.
Photo: Reuters
Camille Abily missed France’s first penalty, but Claire Rafferty and Faye White then failed to net England’s last two to send Les Bleus through to a final four showdown with either Brazil or the US.
It was a double blow for Germany, with Japan’s victory ensuring that France will go to next year’s Olympics.
“This is what I feared would happen,” Germany coach Silvia Neid said. “We were off color against the side ranked fourth in the world. We weren’t able to score goals and we weren’t precise enough in our execution. You always have to worry about a good counterattack against the Japanese. It is of course very unfortunate and very sad.”
Photo: EPA
Japan coach Norio Sasaki said: “To win against Germany is something that really motivates us to give our best for the next match. I am very, very proud of my team.”
Japan will next meet either Australia or Sweden.
Having won both the 2003 and 2007 editions, it was the first time Germany had lost at a women’s World Cup since they were beaten 3-2 by the US in the quarter-finals of the 1999 tournament.
Germany suffered an early setback when key midfielder Kim Kulig headed over the bar and limped off with a knee injury after an awkward landing after three minutes.
Neid was forced to bring on defender Bianca Schmidt and leftback Linda Bresonik pushed up into midfield.
It was predominantly one-way traffic for the hosts in the opening stages in front of a sold-out crowd of 26,067. Powerful midfielder Celia Okoyino da Mbabi, who ran herself ragged over the course of the night, had a shot parried away by Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori on 13 minutes. Captain Kerstin Garefrekes saw her effort fly across the face of the goal on 22 minutes.
Japan finally came into the match and their clearest chance was when forward Yuki Nagasato fired wide with half an hour gone as Germany dropped off their early pace.
Japan midfielder Aya Miyama fired over twice with two long-range efforts as normal time faded and Germany forward Inka Grings had an appeal for a penalty turned down in the final five minutes after she was shouldered off the ball.
The game was finally decided in the second period of extra-time, when Japan stunned the home crowd with the crucial goal to reach the last four.
France, meanwhile, should have won in regular time but for string of missed chances and some big saves by England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.
“Until three minutes before the final whistle, we thought we could lose this match even though it could have been 3-0 for us,” France coach Bruno Bini said. “Our match was going well, but we weren’t getting our reward. That was unacceptable, but in the end we were rewarded.”
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