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 Miyazawa equals the record for a Japan player at a World Cup. Homare Sawa scored five in 2011 when Japan won the tournament.
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 a halftime.
After beating Spain 4-0 with only 23% of possession in its group-stage finale, Japan once again was a tactical chameleon in the round of 16 — playing with more than 60% of possession in a commanding performance.
Japan traded its regular blue uniform for pastel colors Saturday, pink and purple. The softer color scheme did nothing to dull its attacking style; it pressed forward from the start and had its first corner after two minutes.
While it was ineffective, it was an early declaration of intent. With long balls or sharp, quick passing, Japan continually pressed forward and Norway, which conceded only one goal in group play, often seemed rattled at the back.
When the defense finally yielded, it was in unusual circumstances. In the 15th minute Miyazawa curled the ball in from depth on the left and Engen extended her leg to parry the ball. She managed only to deflect it wide of Aurora Mikalsen in goal for the eighth own goal of the tournament.
Japan seemed well on top but in the 21st minute, and from the first time in the match Norway had threatened, Vilda Boe Rise got away on the right, took the ball to the byline and crossed to the middle where Guro Reiten stood tall and headed wide of the diving Ayaka Yamashita into the left corner.
The goal came entirely against the run of play. After a half-hour, Japan had 183 completed passes to Norway's 88, had more than 60%, five shots on goal. Miyazawa, Aoba Fujino, Jun Endo and others had been threatening.
Shimizu's winner came in the 50th minute as Japan pushed forward again from halfway. Miyazawa tried to hold up the ball near goal, lost possession to Boe Risa, who tried a back pass but rolled the ball into the path of Shimizu rushing in from the right to score.
“There is still a long way to go but after I felt frustrated in 2019, I feel like I’ve overcome an obstacle," Shimizu said. “We’ll head to the next one, but I feel we got a really great victory today.
"Among us there were only positive words. Even when it became 1-1, no one has a negative mood. We could play in a very positive way.”
Miyazawa produced a copybook finish in the 81st, running onto a superb through ball and directing her shot wide of Mikalsen.
Norway and Japan had met only once before at a World Cup, in 1999, when Norway won 4-0. Current Norway coach Hege Riise scored on goal in that match. On Saturday, Riise watched and admired the new Japan team and the quality of its attacking play.
“'I've seen them play in the group stage and they are a great team with a lot of good players and tactics," Riise said. "The plan was for us to be strong in defense and not let them play too much into us.
“But they did well. We played solid defense some times but not quite good enough. Regardless of who and how to play in the back five, I would say Japan was stronger than us.”
Former Ballon d'Or-winner Ada Hegerberg started on the bench for Norway and was introduced late, indicating her fitness still may not have been up to scratch."
Japan will play the winner of the U.S.-Sweden match in the quarterfinals on Friday.
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38 Comments
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Ricky Kaminski13
Why is there little to no attention, buzz or coverage. I thought Japan loved their Nadeshikos! What gives?
TrevorPeace
It was certainly worth getting up at 1AM to watch!
Fighto!
Cinderella Story continues!
Amazing performance! More "total football" from Nadeshiko Japan. Norway fought hard and it was closer than I thought, but were always outclassed right across the pitch. Shimizu was brilliant. Miyazawa looking good value for the Golden Boot.
It seemed like the neutrals in NZ were 90%+ behind Japan, up on their feet roaring them on whenever the Japanese ladies were on the ball. Lovely to see!
The question is : Can anyone stop this Nadeshiko Japan machine?
isabelle
Fantastic! Well done, Nadeshiko!
With 14 goals scored and only 1 conceded the other teams will be very wary of playing them. Would be great to see them go all the way like in 2011.
garypen
Good game today. Like most Americans, I'm not much of a soccerball fan. But, over the last few years, with the success of both Japan and US Women's team in international competition, I've come to almost enjoy it. The Japan men's team put on a good show at the Olympics, as well.
My Japanese nephew is crazy about it, though. A real soccer otaku.
Yay, Japan.
Tamarama
Japan absolutely dominated, they were so assured and clean on the ball and have looked a class above every team they have played so far.
Continue to be impressed by Jun Endo, fantastic passing player on the left wing that they went to all game tonight. Don't think Miyazawa will be playing for Sendai for too much longer at this rate, either.
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Nadeshiko Japan are doing nice nice things. Hats off to Hinata Miyazawa and her supremely hardworking colleagues. Well played Japan.
wallace
Great win by Japan.
proxy
I'm not that familiar with the rules of the game but are players allowed to get such a full grasp on the arm of another player as #16 has on #11?
itsonlyrocknroll
One match at a time, that is all one can ask. touch wood.
itsonlyrocknroll
Football Rules and Regulations 2022
https://www.theukrules.co.uk/rules/sport/football/index.html
Just 17 FIFA rules, proxy
Actually there are 22 but let not complicate things.
Peter14
Japan are starting to look the goods. If they can continue on as they are, then they have as much chance as anyone to lift the trophy.
I think Sweden will beat the USA causing a mini upset.
Netherlands to defeat South Africa.
England to beat Nigeria.
Australia to beat Denmark.
Columbia to beat Jamaica.
France to beat Morocco.
All based on performances during the group stage.
But as we all know, from this point on anything can happen and any team can win on the day. Penalty shootouts could decide England v Nigeria.
But the great football continues, with each win building more confidence in the teams. Japan will be feeling quietly confident of making the Semi's and the Final with the openness of the top half of the draw and Japans awesome goal scoring ability so far.
Good luck to all still in the hunt.
browny1
Skillful win by Japan.
Norway just seemed lost for a game plan.
No threat whatsoever.
One of the things of this tournament is getting too carried away with big wins over fledgling teams ie - Norway 6 - Phillipines 0.
And I agree about the news here.
Suddenly Nadeshiko are talk of the town.
Funny considering a week before the tournament no channel wanted to telecast the WORLD CUP and only late minute negotiations and pressure saw NHK take it up - but only for Japan's games.
Classic fairweather support.
Commercial stations must be spewing now. NHK has to fill in all the pre-game - break times - post game with actual soccer bits - even fluff pieces - whereas a commercial network would have had a million ads.
Be great to see the team go all the way and the networks get zilch revenue.
Jimizo
Good stuff from Japan. In this tournament they’ve shown they are capable of playing on the counter and playing on the front foot.
Impressive. Quality and discipline. Very good side.
Jimizo
I think it’s time to be a bit more sparing with the cliches, sport.
Overdoing it a touch.
Yubaru
Just goes to show that Japan isnt interested in "flowers", but their Samurai women!
albaleo
Perhaps she was trying to hold her up from the push by No. 20. But as long as the ref can't see it, it's fine.
Anyway, Japan are looking strong.
tora
Yup Noway down and another Scandinavian victim will follow for Nadeshiko since the US wiil lose their game. Been horribly out of form.
bass4funk
Once Rapinoe is gone and their abysmal coach is also out of the picture and replaced, I think the US women's Soccer team can come back as strong as they were back in the day before these women ruined the team and demoralized it,
Gene Hennigh
I'm for Japan all the way. I can't understand those who diss Japan coverage. . .on a Japanese news site. Get your news some place else. Japan's women are leveling their opponents. Good for Japan.
mtuffizi
why all these negative comments? it is a happy win to celebrate. enjoyed so much watching the game.
Tamarama
Nice kit, by the way ladies. Like that one.
Fighto!
Good to see all the positive comments about Nadeshiko Japan at last! I have to say though - where were all you guys 2 weeks ago?! I was one of the few talking positive about them on here amongst a sea of "who cares?" and "they've really dropped off the radar" type comments.
But it is good to see people back on the Nadeshiko support wagon!
sunfunbun
The team and individual play of Japan is great to see. Coaching is good, as well. It was a controlling, dominant game by Nadeshiko.
Norway needed to try and attack in the 2nd half, but they didn't take the chances necessary to push forward enough. They had a couple of chances for the equalizer, but failed. From the start they were so cautious about the Japanese attack, the space they allowed Japan's backline may have tired out the Norwegians.
The first goal was a Norwegian own goal, but they were pressured from the beginning and looked vulnerable. It was a bit strange to see the lack of a clear tactic for them, and for better or worse, they kept setting up defensively in a 1-4-5 set that somewhat held Japan down, but only a matter of time till Nadeshiko scored, as there was no pressure on the ball and eventually, a player would have time and space to make a play for Japan.
Onto the quarters for Japan. A nice win. A long ways to go.
socrateos
sunfunbun (said a few days ago before this game):
So where are you, sunfunbun?
Japantime
Japan is the best team at this world championship. They play the complete game. They will win this event so easily. The other teams are quite poor at the game of soccer.
stormcrow
Hope the U.S. beats Sweden, then we can watch what could be the best match of the tournament between Japan and the U.S.
dbsaiya
Way better than the men. One thing I really like about them is after they score a goal, they don't run around carrying on with the me, me celebration. It's a big group hug cheering and it's refreshing to see that they are celebrating as a team. The guys have forgotten that this is a team sport.
kochikame
I'm hoping Japan has 3 more matches, until the Final one.
I'm also cheering for Colombia, especially after my home country has been eliminated.
kochikame
It's Colombia, not Columbia.
sunfunbun
Exactly as I say.
Norway played Japan closer than many thought. It was a tight game. Japan is good, they found out with a Norwegian equalizer early, it was going to not be easy. Norways tactics weren't good enough, but Japan did not get behind, and they are good.
But will say this again, they are beatable. It isn't the slam dunk Japan fans seem to believe.
sunfunbun
Japantime and Scorateas...this is exactly why I'm saying fans are over confident.
tbh, I'm surprised Socrateas you miss the point of what I wrote a few days ago, and obviously on your mind to bring it up after my post, which actually details why Japan was good and Norway lost. Interesting the next post to yours really backs me up, quite well...
Jind
I did watch the game at 1.00am in USA.
Though I am a football player, I was a bit critical of how Japan played.
At times they looked very methodical in their game with passes from A-B-C-D and lots of back passes.
I would have liked to see some individual flair to break the same passes over and again.
If Sweden beat USA, they are a lot better than Norway and would require more than the single methodical passes with final cross coming from the left.
I want Japan to win and food for thought.
socrateos
sunfunbun (said a few days ago before this game):
That did not happen. Japan won 3-1 against Norway.
Here is the history of matches between these two national teams.
2023 Japan 3-1 Norway
2018 Japan 4-1 Norway
2013 Japan 0-2 Norway
2012 Japan 2-1 Norway
2011 Japan 1-0 Norway
2008 Japan 5-1 Norway
Japan won 5 games
Norway won 1 game
garypen
It's interesting to read the opinions of someone who actually plays, such as yourself. As a soccer layman, I was actually impressed by their passing and ball control, as well as their speed.
I thought the 2nd and 3rd goals seemed extremely well-executed to me. Even the setup of the 1st goal was impressive to me, even if it was tipped in by a Norway player.
Was I interpreting things the wrong way?
garypen
I also noticed how they checked on the other team's players after a fall to see if they're okay. Good sportsmanship there.
sunfunbun
Socrateos:
Norway's top players are considered top 10 in the world. Helgerberg was a recent ballon d'or winner...declaring the best European Women's football player. Caroline Graham Hansen, make up 2 of Norway's players in the top ten, pre WC. They are superior players on the pitch and result wise over any of the Japanese players internationally, by result beyond the WC...
Norway kept it close, and Japan proved superior. It does not mean Japan was invincible nor could not have lost the game. With a bit of luck Norway, although outplayed, could have tied the game, they were close, twice, before Hinata's 3rd clincher. The key word is 'could'. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't. It is a possibility.
If history wins the game, there's no doubt the USA beats Sweden, as Sweden has lost every game to the USA in the World Cup. That's such a nonsensical argument...past results. According to your past history argument, which is completely flawed, USA has nothing to worry about.
lostrune2
Rapinoe was there the last 2 times the US won the World Cup. She was there "back in the day," as you say it. In fact, for the last World Cup title, she was the team captain!
Actually, Norway and Japan had met just once before at a World Cup - in 1999, when Norway won 4-0