Japan, Spain advance to quarterfinals
US-Sweden set to play early Sunday morning
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Japan scored its 14th goal of the Women’s World Cup and conceded its first Saturday, beating Norway 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth time.
Hinata Miyazawa sealed the win with her fifth goal of the tournament in the 81st minute to remain the leading scorer. Risa Shimizu’s 50th-minute goal followed an Ingrid Syrstad Engen own goal in the first half to help give Japan its fourth straight win of the tournament.
With five goals, the 23-year-old Miyazawa equals the record for a Japan player at a World Cup. Homare Sawa scored five in 2011 when Japan won the tournament. She won the Golden Boot that year.
This Japan team already has scored more goals than the 2011 team.
Guro Reiten headed a superb goal for Norway in the 21st minute to end Japan’s flawless defensive performance and leave the teams locked 1-1 at halftime.
SPAIN 5, SWITZERLAND 1: In Auckland, New Zealand, Spain showed that La Roja should still be considered a contender to win the Women’s World Cup.
Aitana Bonmati scored twice as Spain routed Switzerland and advanced to the quarterfinals. La Roja had never before won a game in the knockout stage in any major tournament, and finally advanced in its third World Cup appearance.
Spain rolled through its first two games of the tournament — wins against Costa Rica and Zambia — but Japan dealt La Roja a humbling setback in a 4-0 defeat in group play that forced the team to regroup.
“Sometimes when you lose like the other day, it is a very hard blow,” Bonmati said. “I think we should be proud of the work we have done. Right now what you see is a team, and you can see the personality of these players, and I hope we have many more days here.”
Spain coach Jorge Vilda made five changes to the the lineup that was embarrassed by Japan.
The biggest selection calls were leaving two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas on the bench, giving goalkeeper Cata Coll her first appearance with the national team, and giving centerback Laia Codina her first World Cup start.
US-SWEDEN: One of the top players in women’s soccer will end her World Cup career after the match between the United States and Sweden, which started at 3 a.m. (MDT) on Sunday.
Megan Rapinoe, the Golden Boot winner of the 2019 tournament with six goals and three assists for the Americans, has said she will retire after the World Cup. Same for Sweden midfielder Caroline Seger, who said her fifth World Cup will be her last.
Both teams want to win Sunday to ensure their superstar centerpiece can continue in the tournament. For Seger, the World Cup is the one gap on her resume.
Seger’s 235 appearances for Sweden are the most for any female player in Europe, and although she has two Olympic silver medals and two World Cup bronze medals, Sweden has never won a major tournament. Seger’s teammates don’t want to see her career end without a chance to play for the World Cup title.
“We get very, very motivated by that,” defender Nathalie Bjorn said. “We will have full focus on Sunday. We will do everything we can as a team, as individuals, then we will make sure we knock out the U.S.”
The 38-year-old Seger has been struggling wit a calf problem all year and trained alone in the two days of practice leading into the showdown with the U.S.
Rapinoe, meanwhile, has taken on a smaller role for the Americans in her final tournament. Also 38, she was a substitute in the United States’ first and third games of group play and didn’t get off the bench in the middle match.
American striker Alex Morgan said both Rapinoe and Seger have had “incredible” careers.
“I’m very optimistic about our chances tomorrow, but regardless, these are players that have really changed the game,” Morgan said. “Not only in Sweden and the U.S. but globally. Having been able to play with both of them, they’re great teammates and have been leaders for so long at the highest stage. They’re huge impact players.”