Japan’s impressive Women’s World Cup run continued in Wellington as they beat Norway 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
Futoshi Ikeda’s side dominated possession and made it count thanks to second-half strikes from Risa Shimizu and Hinata Miyazawa. Guro Reiten had levelled for Norway in the first half, heading home after an own goal from Ingrid Engen.
Ikeda felt Japan showed their mettle, coming through despite conceding for the first time in the tournament. “We knew that it was going to be a tough match,” he said. “In such circumstances, we had to try our best to win … the team are all very positive and we could still keep the focus. In that sense, I think we have become even tougher than before.”
In a World Cup that has been so unpredictable Japan have remained steady, making them one of the outstanding performers and favourites for the trophy. Their 4-0 demolition of Spain despite having just 23% of possession sent them into the knockout stages for the fourth consecutive tournament.
Ikeda has credited his team’s collective attitude for making the Nadeshiko one of only three teams to maintain a perfect record in the group stage. Here, the manager made three changes. Yui Hasegawa, Mina Tanaka – who scored against Spain off the bench – and Aoba Fujino came in for Honoka Hayashi, Riko Ueki and Hikaru Naomoto.
Conversely, Norway’s campaign had been patchy. A 6-0 win over the Philippines sent them into the last 16 but Hege Riise’s side came into this fixture as the underdogs. Their star striker Ada Hegerberg was fit enough only to return to the bench after suffering a groin injury, so Sophie Haug retained her position up front. Arsenal’s Frida Maanum dropped to the bench as Engen made a return.
Japan continued their group-stage form as they took control early on. Their technical ability across the pitch and the attacking intent of their forward players pinned Norway back. Within two minutes, the goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen was called into action to tip away Fujino’s cross before Shimizu broke forward, only to send the ball over the bar.
An opener felt inevitable, but it came in disastrous circumstances for Norway. When Miyazawa, one of the competition’s breakout stars, was afforded space from distance, she turned in a cross that Engen diverted into the back of her own net.
Some might have expected Riise’s side to fold but they rallied strongly. Norway began to pick off Japan’s high press and found spaces through more direct routes. It paid off as Vilde Bøe Risa broke at pace down the right before delivering a pinpoint cross. Reiten climbed above Hana Takahashi to direct a sublime header into the far corner.
With the scores level at the break, a team talk was needed from Ikeda to get Japan back on track. It had an immediate effect and his side were ahead within minutes of the restart. It was once again a defensive mistake as Norway failed to clear and Bøe Risa passed the ball straight to Shimizu, who turned it home.
The introduction of Maanum and Hegerberg in the second half did little to ease Norway’s woes. Japan’s technical ability was superior and their quarter-final place was confirmed by the brilliance of Miyazawa. The prolific star broke on to Fujino’s defence-splitting pass to score her fifth goal of the tournament, putting her top of the Golden Boot standings.
Norway kept fighting and forced a scramble on the line late on before an incredible save by Ayaka Yamashita denied Karina Sævik. After the game, Riise acknowledged her team were beaten by a better side.
“I would say credit to Japan and how they play,” the Norway head coach said. “We knew Japan would have a lot of possession and [we had] to be strong in defence … we were not quite good enough.”
Japan now await the winner of Sunday’s USA and Sweden clash in Auckland on Friday.
