Impressive Sweden stun Japan to secure World Cup semi-final against Spain | OneFootball

Sweden advanced to their second consecutive World Cup semi-final with an impressive win over Japan. A first-half goal from Amanda Ilestedt and Filippa Angeldal’s penalty stunned the Nadeshiko in front of more than 43,000 fans in Auckland. Honoka Hayashi pulled a goal back for Japan but they ran out of time to complete their comeback.

Peter Gerhardsson was delighted after his side outplayed Japan in the first half to secure their progress. “It’s wonderful, obviously,” the manager told Swedish radio. “The game had everything. In terms of performance, we had our best of the tournament. It got very exciting.”

Japan had been the eye-catching team of the World Cup, sweeping away everyone in their path. Futoshi Ikeda’s side play with joy and guile, tactically adaptable and with strong ability across the pitch. They had won all their matches before this by at least a two-goal margin, accumulating 14 goals. Ikeda made one change to the team that had overcome Norway last Saturday, Hina Sugita coming in for Jun Endo in midfield.

In contrast, Sweden had been less than convincing in their last-16 encounter against the US, edging through on penalties despite being second best. Gerhardsson stuck with the same starting lineup, however, for the country’s sixth quarter-final appearance.

When Gerhardsson confidently stated: “We have a good gameplan to win,” few thought it would be as effective as it turned out. The Blågult produced one of the best first-half performances of the tournament, outshining Japan in terms of possession, passing and creativity. Their manager had said they would play a more technical and faster style than against the US and, from the start, they aggressively pressed and advanced in numbers.

The match simmered early on, threatening to burst into life but not quite having the end product. Sweden are known for their more direct style and looked at their most potent when utilising the long-range passing ability of their centre-backs and the running of Stina Blackstenius up front.

It was through this route that they produced their first gilt-edged opportunity. Blackstenius nipped in ahead of an uncharacteristically hesitant Saki Kumagai but the forward somehow drilled her shot wide from close range.

Sweden’s dominance continued and they got their reward after almost half an hour. Japan’s failure to clear Jonna Andersson’s free-kick meant it dropped first to Nathalie Björn then to Magdalena Eriksson. It was eventually scrambled through to Ilestedt, who fired home her fourth goal of the tournament, a true poacher’s finish. It was Sweden’s seventh here from a set piece.

Japan will have been hugely grateful to their goalkeeper, Ayaka Yamashita, that they went into the break only 1-0 down. She produced a stunning fingertip save to tip Kosovare Asllani’s effort on to a post on the stroke of half-time.

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Ikeda’s hand was forced and he replaced the struggling Sugita with Endo. It did little to affect Sweden’s momentum, however, as Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s pace caused trouble again, forcing Yamashita into another fine stop. A handball by Fuka Nagano off the subsequent corner prompted the VAR to ask the Swiss referee, Esther Staubli, to have a second look. Staubli pointed to the spot and Angeldal duly converted.

The goal finally shook Japan into life as they saw their hopes fading fast. Chances were coming their way as Yui Hasegawa fired over and Aoba Fujino forced a save from Zecira Musovic.

They piled on the pressure and a trip by Madelen Janogy on Riko Ueki led the referee once again to point to the spot, perhaps harshly. The Japan player picked herself up to hit the penalty only to watch it rattle the crossbar and bounce out, Ueki’s follow-up illegal because no one else had touched the ball.

Japan hit the woodwork once more through Fujino’s delightful free-kick. It bounced down and off Musovic’s back but agonisingly did not fully cross the line. Moments later came Hayashi’s goal, but it proved too little, too late.

Japan’s captain, Kumagai, was heartbroken. “We fought so hard because we wanted it,” she said. “We will come back stronger.”

An impressive Sweden will return to Auckland to face Spain on Tuesday. It was a victory that ensured there will be a new name on the World Cup trophy come 20 August.