Sweden tops Japan to ensure a first-time champion
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Sweden first knocked off the United States and then bounced Japan on Friday to snag a spot in the semifinals of the Women's World Cup.
The Swedes, the World Cup runners-up in 2003 and three-time third-place finishers, eliminated previously unbeaten Japan 2-1 in Friday's quarterfinal. With Japan out of the tournament, this year's World Cup will crown a first-time winner. Sweden will continue its run with a semifinal match against Spain on Tuesday.
Amanda Ilestedt scored a first-half goal and Filippa Angeldal converted a second-half penalty to give Sweden the mild upset and send the Swedes to the semifinals for the fifth time, where they'll play Spain.
“Obviously we were very happy with the win against the U.S., but we knew we had to recharge and think about Japan,” midfielder Kosovare Asllani said. “We knew we were going to play a very skilled and technical team, and we didn't want them to have a lot of time on the ball because that's when they're the best.”
Japan had been so prolific with 14 goals in rolling to a 4-0 tournament record, but the Japanese struggled for most of the game to keep up with the taller Swedish team.
Sweden's Zecira Musovic, fresh off a World Cuprecord 11 saves in a win vs. the U.S., was finally beaten in the 86th minute, when substitute Honoka Hayashi's penalty cut the lead to 2-1, but that was all Japan could manage.
Salma Paralluelo scored deep in extra time to give Spain a win over Netherlands on Thursday and secure a place in the Women's World Cup semifinals for the first time.
The 19-year-old Paralluelo came on as a substitute and struck in the 111th minute of a tight knockout match between European soccer heavyweights, creating history for Spain and sending the 2019 World Cup runnersup out of the tournament one round after the defending champion U.S. was eliminated.
“We have succeeded. We have fought until the end. We have believed,” Paralluelo said. “It was a unique moment, great euphoria to have lived through that.”
After the Dutch missed two chances to take the lead in stoppage time, Paralluelo made her break down the left off a pass from Jenni Hermosa, swiveled to beat Aniek Nouwen, pivoted momentarily and from a difficult angle launched a leftfooted shot into the back of the net for the winner.