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Sweden defeat Japan in upset victory to book semifinal World Cup berth

Despite being higher-ranked, the Swedes have defied popular opinion to beat the Japanese in a gripping quarterfinal contest.

9 min read
August 11, 2023 - 11:41PM
Stefanie van der Gragt put her arm out to stop. Photo: Optus Sport.
Stefanie van der Gragt put her arm out to stop. Photo: Optus Sport.

Sweden have advanced to the World Cup semifinal after holding tight against a surging Japan in Auckland.

Amanda Ilestedt slammed a loose ball home in the first half to keep the tournament’s Golden Boot within her grasp and send the Scandinavians 1-0 up, before a VAR-assisted penalty conversion sent them 2-0 up.

A late goal gave the Japanese hope, but as they did in their Round of 16 clash against the reigning champion United States, Sweden held steadfast and their physical superiority held them in good stead.

It loomed as a David and Goliath contest, despite Japan being lower ranked heading into the contest.

Japan had scored 14 goals and conceded none before this game, and Sweden had stumbled at points against the USA.

The Japanese had surprised all comers with their directness and tactical soundness, leading the entire tournament for direct attack goals and having the most direct attacks of any nation then left in the tournament.

With their direct style, they were widely expected to beat the Swedes, despite Sweden being higher ranked.

ESPN’s Valerio Veo was astonished, and taking to social media to express his amazement.

“WHAT IS HAPPENING,” Veo wrote on Twitter.

7.40pm - Sweden win 2-1

Sweden have won a gripping contest at Eden Park, fighting off a fast-finishing Japan outfit and aided by a VAR-awarded penalty kick to come out victorious, 2-1.

Japan’s run as the darlings of the tournament has come to a heartbreaking end, as the Swedes advance to face Spain on August 15 in the semifinal.

7.30pm - Japan dare to dream

There will be 10 minutes of stoppage time.

7.25pm - Indomitable Musovic finally beaten, Japan get one back

Fujino fires a free kick in, hitting the crossbar, then the thus-unbeatable Musovic, the star of the insane shootout victory against the US, and somehow remaining out, before Hayashi takes advantage of the madness to slam one home, and keeping the Japanese in this gripping contest with three minutes left in regulation.

Tears flow on the Japanese bench as they dare to dream once more.

7.20pm - Japan make two changes, followed by Sweden

Japan bring on Honoka Hayashi and Kiko Seike for Hinata Miyazawa and Fuka Nagano, followed four minutes later by the Swedes.

They bring on Sofia Jakobsson and Hanna Bennison for Johanna Kaneryd and Elin Rubensson.

7.05pm - Missed penalty! By the barest of margins!

A huge opportunity for Japan goes begging, with Riko Ueki brought down in the box on a barnstorming run forward in the 76th minute.

Ueki steps up to take the penalty, and blasts it, as if she would get two if the ball went through the net.

It bounces off the bottom of the crossbar and back out, and under pressure she’s unable to convert the rebound header either.

Japan have been much braver since the half, charging forward with much more menace.

7.00pm - Sweden make two changes, shootout hero comes on

Sweden’s captain Asllani comes off in the 73rd minute alongside Fridolina Rolfo, replaced by Madalen Janogy and the star of Sweden’s last gasp shootout win over the United States, Lina Hurtig.

6.40pm - Japan make second change

Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda has made an immediate change in the 51st minute, taking off striker Mina Tanaka for Riko Ueki.

6.35pm - VAR intervenes to award handball penalty, Sweden convert and lead 2-0

VAR has intervened, with a ball rebounding off Ilestedt onto the outstretched arm of Fuka Nagano in the 49th minute.

She is ruled on review to have “made her body bigger”, and by the book, it is a penalty.

Filippa Angeldal makes no mistake burying it in the bottom of the left side netting as Ayaka Yamashita guessed the wrong direction.

A long way back for Japan now, who haven’t looked dangerous at any point.

6.30pm - Yamashita saves again!

Yamashita is doing her utmost to keep Japan in the game, diving full-stretch again to her left to deny Johanna Kaneryd in the 47th minute.

Half-time - Japan 0-1 Sweden

The scoreline has flattered a lethargic Japanese outfit, having fallen behind for the first time this tournament.

Sweden lead 1-0, but it could have been 2-0 if not for an incredible save from Ayaka Yamashita.

They have held a strong majority of possession, 55 per cent to Japan’s 34 per cent, snuffing out any Japanese buildup.

Japan have failed to register a shot on goal thus far.

“Sweden have been so good at disrupting Japan’s normal game plan,” said Maia Jackman on Optus Sport.

“They have been really rattled by this Swedish team.”

Japan have made one change at the half, midfielder Hina Sugita coming off for Jun Endo.

6.05pm - Extraordinary save!

Ayaka Yamashita, long maligned as the weak point of this Japan outfit, has made an extraordinary save, diving full stretch to her left to parry a rifle of a shot from Asllani onto the inside of the post and out again.

Inches from going down 2-0 in the 41st minute.

5.55pm - Sweden score! 1-0 Sweden

Sweden’s set-piece prowess has come through on full display. A floating free kick lobbed into the box saw three attempted shots pinballing around the box before Amanda Ilestedt managed to fire it into the top-right corner from point-blank range, her fourth goal of the tournament coming in the 31st minute.

5.50pm - Blackstenius fires wide

The first shot of the game comes after 23 minutes, with a Japanese breakdown allowing Stina Blackstenius to end up on a ball through from Nathalie Bjorn, a one-on-one with the keeper firing wide.

A missed opportunity for the Swedes, who have begun to stamp their physical authority on the game, holding the majority of possession.

Japan return on the counter attack, but are forced wide enough for the subsequent cross in from Risa Shimizu to be relatively impotent.

Shimizu has been dangerous on the right side all day, with her overlapping runs proving a menace.

5.40pm - Unstoppable forces meet immovable objects

Both sides have come out as expected - Japan firing through tight ground balls, with Sweden relying on their aerial presence.

Neither side has managed a shot on goal, with Japan repelling the four Sweden crosses thus far, and a compact Swedish defence keeping out the two Japanese set pieces thus far, both taken short.

Spain def. Netherlands 1-0, advance to semi-finals
Wild drama in Wellington has seen Spain through to the Women’s World Cup semi-finals — and the Netherlands crashing out of the tournament after a “hand of god” moment.

Spain landed the decisive blow in the 111th minute of the epic contest and the winner came after several moments of high drama.

It could so easily have been the Dutch moving through and they may well have done so — if two controversial VAR decisions had not gone against them.

Instead, it is Spain who rode the rollercoaster to win 2-1 as the momentum continued to swing in both periods of extra time.

They were deserved winners after dominating the first 80 minutes of the match — but there will be some outcry in the Netherlands over the dramatic calls that went against them.

Spain had gone ahead in the 80th minute, however, the match was turned on its head when Dutch star Stefanie van der Gragt went from villain to hero with a goal in the 91st minute.

Spain will now move through to a semi-final where they will play the winner of Friday night’s clash between Japan and Sweden.

1.50pm - Spain score extra time stunner to win a classic

Salma Paralluelo celebrates after scoring the match-winner. Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP.
Salma Paralluelo celebrates after scoring the match-winner. Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP.

Spain has stolen victory after a moment of magic in the 111th minute — just moments after a Netherlands star butchered a golden chance.

Teenager Salma Paralluelo did it all by herself, dancing around two defenders before burying a strike past the keeper.

Paralluelo was put through from a long range pass and then threatened to cross the ball on the edge of the box before she turned inside her defender and finished off the classy goal.

It was a hammer blow for the Netherlands after Lineth Beerensteyn nearly scored up the other end. The Dutch star found herself with a bouncing ball at her knees from point blank range after a messy throw in that Spain failed to clear.

From just outside the six-yard box, her powerful shot sailed above the goal.

It was the very next phase of play where Spain landed the telling blow.

1pm - Netherlands score in fairytale comeback

Ten minutes after committing a mistake that will haunt her for life, Stefanie van der Gragt popped up to score a thundering equaliser as the match went into added time.

Van der Gragt was the reason Spain was able to score its first goal from a penalty.

But she could well be a national hero after she was moved to play up forward and scored with a powerful right foot shot that screamed past the goalkeeper just a few minutes later.

Stefanie van der Gragt went from zero to hero. Photo by Grant Down / AFP.
Stefanie van der Gragt went from zero to hero. Photo by Grant Down / AFP.

12.45pm - Absolute madness as star loses the plot with handball

Stefanie van der Gragt buried her face in her hands after a penalty was awarded to Spain via a VAR decision.

The defender was seen stretching her arm out to stop a cross coming into the box — and replays showed her arm was over the line, despite her feet being outside the area.

“She looks almost inconsolable,” a commentator said on Optus Sport.

Mariona Caldentey slotted the penalty with a shot that bounced in after hitting the inside of the post.

Stefanie van der Gragt put her arm out to stop the ball. Photo: Optus Sport.
Stefanie van der Gragt put her arm out to stop the ball. Photo: Optus Sport.

Aussie football star Chloe Logarzo said on Optus Sport: “What is she doing? You know football. You’re close to the box. You should retract your arm. She’s lucky she didn’t get a card because it was on purpose”.

The Matildas player after the match described it as a “hand of god” moment.

“Not the best hand of god,” she said.

“It was a massive brain snap. A massive moment for them.”

12.30pm - Netherlands denied penalty in VAR drama

The Netherlands have been denied a penalty and a chance to land a suckerpunch on Spain.

Lineth Beerensteyn was brought down in the box as she chased through a ball that got her behind the Spanish defence.

Defender Irene Paredes then appeared to shove Beerensteyn to the ground as she turned to chase the ball.

Replays showed there was significant contact between the two, however, referee Stephanie Frappart reversed her decision after looking at the footage of the incident.

The contact was ruled to have been shoulder-to-shoulder with Parades keeping her arm tucked into her body.

The yellow card issued to Paredes was also withdrawn.

Lineth Beerensteyn was brought down in the box. Photo: Optus Sport.
Lineth Beerensteyn was brought down in the box. Photo: Optus Sport.

12pm - Huge controversy as Spain has goal taken away

Spain have been denied again after a brutal VAR review.

Esther Gonzalez was able to tap in a ball at the far post after a cross-goal pass that left Netherlands goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar deserted.

The move started with a clever turn from Ona Batlle and her cross split open the Dutch defence.

However, replays showed the final pass to Gonzalez caught her a fraction offside - and it was enough to take the goal off Spain by a matter of centimetres.

Esther Gonzalez was called offside. Photo: Optus Sport.
Esther Gonzalez was called offside. Photo: Optus Sport.

“This moment was just a little bit offside, but you can feel it’s coming,” Chloe Logarzo said on Optus Sport at half time.

“It’s been building and building.”

The half time stats showed Spain had touched the ball 23 times inside their attacking penalty area - compared to the Netherlands’ total of two.

11.30am - Spain denied by the woodwork twice

Alba Redondo has hit the post twice in a matter of seconds in a moment that had Netherlands players with their hearts in their mouths.

Redondo got onto the end of a nice ball in from Mariona Caldentey and her header was tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.

Redondo then got a boot onto the ball as it rebounded but she was caught off balance as the ball bounced back to her and her tap bobbled into the post again.

Esther Gonzalez of Spain and Stefanie Van Der Gragt of Netherlands. Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Esther Gonzalez of Spain and Stefanie Van Der Gragt of Netherlands. Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Netherlands turn to spies for Spain clash

Netherlands coach Andries Jonker says he “knows everything” about Spain ahead of their Women’s World Cup quarter-final on Friday, thanks in part to former Spanish international Damaris Egurrola.

Egurrola made one appearance for Spain in a friendly and was a regular in their youth teams, but the midfielder now plays for the Netherlands and is contention to start in Wellington.

Jonker and his coaching staff have also been briefed about what to expect from defender Merel van Dongen, who plays for Atletico Madrid, while Stefanie van der Gragt and Lieke Martens both had spells with Barcelona.

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Andrew McMurtry

“We know everything about Spain. We have a small book about them,” Jonker said on Thursday.

“We spoke with our players, and of course Damaris, who knows a lot about Spain. Our scouting team did its job.

— AFP

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/womens-world-cup-netherlands-vs-spain-quarterfinal-live-updates/news-story/0eedd030594a80a0e3a42d3fdb484f63