Japanese female samurai stopped at World Cup quarter-finals

DETAILED PROGRESS:

Minute 90+9: The Japanese women's team has just forced Sweden into a difficult defensive position. Unfortunately, in the chaotic situation in the penalty area, no shots were taken by the Japanese players.

Minute 90+6: Goalkeeper Musovic just came out and punched the ball away from the Swedish goal.

90+4: The Japanese women's team is increasing the pressure to find an equalizer. There are only 6 minutes of injury time left.

Honoka Hayashi reduces the score for Japan to 1-2. Photo: Getty Images

GOAL!!! Honoka shortens the score to 1-2 for Japan.

Minute 87: From a defensive error by Sweden, player Honoka rushed in and finished close to the goal, shortening the score to 1-2 for Japan.

Minute 85: From a good central attack, Fujino was fouled and Japan was awarded a free kick from 18m. Fujino himself took the free kick, the ball hit the Swedish goal and bounced out.

Minute 82: From a cross from her teammate on the right wing, player Lina Hurtig (Sweden) jumped high to head the ball but it was inaccurate.

Minute 79: Riko Ueki (Japan) received a yellow card after a dangerous tackle on a Swedish player.

NO GOAL!!! Japan missed a chance to score from the penalty spot!

Minute 76: Player Riko Ueki (Japan) was fouled in the penalty area and the referee awarded the Asian representative a penalty. On the 11m mark, Riko Ueki was the one assigned the responsibility but his shot hit the crossbar.

Ueki missed a chance to score from the penalty spot. Photo: Reuters

Minute 74: Hasegawa (Japan) fired a shot from 20 meters away, the ball was weak and inaccurate. In the past few minutes, the Asian representative has been increasing the pressure.

The Japanese team is in a hurry, accelerating to find an equalizer. Photo: aljazeera

Minute 68: Player Hasegawa (Japan) fired a very quick shot in the penalty area, the ball went too high over the Swedish goal.

Minute 63: From a high cross from his teammate, player Fujino (Japan) fired a shot from a tight angle, the ball hit the ground and went higher than the Swedish goal.

Minute 59: From a high cross from his teammate, player Andersson (Sweden) jumped high to head the ball but it missed the target.

Filippa Angeldal successfully converted the penalty, doubling the gap for Sweden. Photo: Getty Images

According to Google's algorithm, the Swedish women's team has a 96% chance of winning. Photo: Reuters

Minute 56: After conceding the second goal, the Japanese players rose up to attack strongly. However, the Swedish women's team is organizing the match quite well with the ability to coordinate smoothly between positions.

Fuka Nagano's handball led to a penalty for Sweden. Photo: Reuters

GOAL!!! Angeldahl doubles Sweden's lead.

Minute 50: After checking VAR technology, the referee determined that a Japanese player had handled the ball in the penalty area and awarded a penalty to Sweden. From a distance of 11m, player Angeldahl accurately finished to increase the score to 2-0 for the European representative.

Minute 48: The Swedish women's team coordinated well, the ball was passed smoothly to Kaneryd's position. Immediately, the player wearing the number 19 shirt fired a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, the ball missed the Japanese goal.

SECOND HALF BEGINS!

Online voting results after the first half on FIFA's homepage. Screenshot

HALF 1 ENDED!

Sweden temporarily led Japan 1-0. This was a worthy result because the European representative controlled the ball 59%, launched 11 shots and continuously exploited the opponent's weakness in the air. Despite starting the game proactively, the Japanese players did not launch a single shot.

Minute 44: Sweden coordinated well, the ball was passed back to the second line. Immediately a Swedish player took a very strong shot, the ball went right into the position of the Japanese goalkeeper.

Stina Blackstenius and Saki Kumagai follow the same ball. Photo: svenskfotboll

NO GOING IN!!!

Minute 42: From a distance of 18m, player Asllani (Sweden) made a technical curling shot, the ball hit the Japanese goal post and bounced out.

Minute 37: From a cross-field pass, Kaneryd (Sweden) rushed down at high speed, but in the final move, he lost his footing and the pass went out of bounds.

So far, Sweden's number 13 has scored 4 goals at the 2023 Women's World Cup finals. Photo: Reuters

Amanda Ilestedt opened the scoring for Sweden. Photo: Reuters

GOAL!!! Ilestedt opens the scoring for Sweden!

Minute 32: Taking advantage of the chaotic situation in the penalty area, player Ilestedt seized the opportunity very quickly, finishing from close range into the Japanese net, opening the score for the Swedish women's team.

Minute 27: Receiving the ball in an open position on the right wing, defender Shimizu (Japan) dribbled down the sideline and then sent a high pass, but no player chose the right landing spot.

NO GOING IN!!!

Minute 24: From a mistake by a Japanese defender, Blackstenius (Sweden) had a chance to face the goalkeeper but the toe of the player wearing number 11 sent the ball wide of the goal.

Sweden's Kosovare Asllani battles for the ball with Japan's Fuka Nagano. Photo: svenskfotboll

Johanna Kaneryd (No. 19) of Sweden plays with great power. Photo: AFP

Minute 16: From a smooth central attack, player Takahashi (Japan) made a decisive pass to a teammate who was in an unmarked position, but the Swedish defender promptly intercepted it.

A fierce ball fight by Mina Tanaka (No. 11) of Japan. Photo: Reuters

Minute 12: The Japanese women's team stole the ball and counterattacked dangerously, forcing Angeldahl (Sweden) to commit a foul. The Asian representative was awarded a free kick from 20 meters away, but the coordination between the players did not cause any surprises.

According to Google's algorithm, the Japanese women's team has a 34% chance of winning against Sweden in 90 minutes of official play.

Minute 10: The Swedish women's team is holding 72% ball possession but has yet to take a shot.

Hana Takahashi (No. 12) in an aerial battle. Photo: Getty Images

Minute 7: The Swedish player is controlling the ball well and launching quite dangerous attacks from the right wing.

Minute 3:

From a free kick from a very long distance, captain Asllani (Sweden) lofted the ball into the penalty area but the Japanese defense easily cleared it.

THE MATCH BEGINS!!!

The Japanese women's team served first.

Japan are making a strong impression with their pressing, sharp attacking style, and small combinations based on the speed and excellent individual skills of their players. Having won the world championship in 2011 and been runner-up in 2015, Japan this year is showing that they have the strength to repeat the same achievement.

Swedish players get acquainted with the pitch. Photo: Getty Images

The Japanese women's team warms up on the field. Photo: FIFA

According to the announced lineup, coach Peter Gerhardsson did not change any of the Swedish women's team's players in the match against Japan compared to the recent confrontation with the US team.