Sweden first knocked off the United States and then bounced Japan 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 lineup, this year's World Cup will crown a first-time winner.
The sold-out crowd at Eden Park, where Sweden will play in the semifinals on Tuesday against Spain, danced to songs by Swedish rock band Abba as it was played throughout the stadium after the win.
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.
Japan had been so prolific with 14 goals in rolling to a 4-0 tournament record, but Japan struggled for most of the game to keep up with the taller Swedish team. When Sweden went up 2-0 late in the second, Japan seemed out of the tournament.
But the Japanese finally made a late comeback and seriously pressured Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, who is fresh off a World Cup-record 11 saves in the win over the United States.
Riko Ueki’s penalty attempt for Japan in the 76th minute hit the crossbar and bounced clear of the goal, but Musovic was finally beaten in the 86th minute when substitute Honoka Hayashi cut Sweden's lead to 2-1.
That was all the Japanese mustered as Sweden advanced to play Spain, which beat the Netherlands 2-1 in extra time earlier Friday. Japan had beaten Spain 4-0 in group play.
Japan’s exit means there will be a first-time winner at this World Cup. Japan won in 2011, and previous winners Germany, Norway and the United States were all eliminated earlier in the tournament.
Ilestedt broke through for Sweden in the 32nd minute off a free kick that ricocheted among the players in front of the goal before landing at her feet for the goal. It was the defender’s fourth of the World Cup.
Angeldal added the penalty kick in the 51st minute after Fuka Nagano's handball in the box was confirmed by video review.
Japan's run in the World Cup ended with 14 goals, more than any team left in the tournament. Hinata Miyazawa finished with five of those goals to lead the Golden Boot race, matching the team record set by Homare Sawa in Japan's 2011 title run.
Sweden was riding high after eliminating the two-time defending champion Americans on penalties following a scoreless draw on Sunday. The victory came by just millimeters, when goal-line technology showed that Lina Hurtig's attempt crossed the line before it could be saved by American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
Japan, No. 11 in the FIFA rankings, earned a place in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory over Norway.
The game was a clash of styles from the start: third-ranked Sweden was more physical while Japan was more technical. Sweden dominated possession for much of the match and had the better chances.
Stina Blackstenius beat a defender Saki Kumagai and faced Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita one-on-one in the 25th minute but her shot went wide.
After Ilestedt's goal, Kosovare Asllani nearly doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, but her blast from the top of the box was pushed away by a diving Yamashita.
Angeldal's penalty appeared to rattle the Japanese, who struggled against the taller and more athletic Swedes. Japan didn't get a shot off until the 63rd minute. Japan had scored at least twice in each of its previous games, but had never come back from down two goals in World Cup play.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Sweden eliminated Japan on home soil in the quarterfinals. Sweden advanced to the gold medal game but lost to Canada.
The Swedes have never won a title at either the World Cup or the Olympics.
AP Women’s World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup
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25 Comments
Fighto!
An absolute heart-in-mouth emotional rollercoaster!
Hats off to the Swedish ladies. Dominant from the kick off. Nadeshiko sadly seemed to be overawed by the occasion until the dying moments, couldn't thread the ball and were ineffective on the break, unlike previous games. The missed penalty was gutting. You simply cannot miss a gift like that.
Consolations, Japan. They have provided great memories over the past 2 weeks - and with such a young squad, will be better for the experience in '27.
Big up to the NZ crowds who roared Japan on all the way!
stickman1760
Did they clean their locker room?
Onlooker
There is no doubt that Sweden deserves this win and moving up to the semi final. Now I look forward to Yui Hasegawa's play at Manchester City in the coming new season.
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Nadeshiko Japan are a work in progress. Their best is yet to come. Thanks for the wonderful moments. All the best for 2027 and beyond. Congratulations to Sweden.
isabelle
Zannen, Japan. Just couldn't quite get it together on the day.
Still, great entertainment throughout the tournament, and this team will get better and better :)
piskian
Taller and more athletic Swedes.
Always an excuse.
Just respect a superior opponent, please.
EFD
Congratulations to Sweden, now the favorite to win it all.
I felt like Japan discovered their aggression too late. They had the Swedes tried out and on the defensive, but they just started too late.
Nonetheless, congratulations to Japan. You represented yourself and the country well.
Come home heads held high!
Elvis is here
Great tournament. Well done ladies in keeping Elvis' attention. Better than than the little boys! By a looonnnggg shot you see. Oh yeah.
sunfunbun
Kudos to the Swedes.
Japan hadn't gotten behind in a game, and it was possibly going to be a factor if they fell behind, and when they did, they couldn't find a way to dominate as they had against prior competition.
A great effort by Japan thru this WC, one where there are a lot of evenly matched teams. Every quarter final game could and can go either way.
One fun World Cup to watch as the favorites drops out and there will be a new women's WC champion! My hope is it is Colombia. Go Linda!!
itsonlyrocknroll
Remember footy legend Greavsie
Jimmy Greaves Football Is A Funny Old Game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcDb-fwkuGg
Japan had chances that could have turned the game, Sweden were the stronger team on the day.
I lament what could have been.
WA4TKG
Sorry Japan (my second home / Okinawa ), congratulations Sweden.
Reginald Bok
Sweden could have been 4 or 5 up before Japan tried to salvage some pride.
Bow down to the almost always superior Europeans, ladies.
They'll be packing out the Swedish equivalents of pubs bars and izakayas tonight all over Sweden on celebration...
Snigger
Tell_me_bout_it
Same happened in Qatar 2022. Japanese team made a lot of noise in group stages but were hopeless in the knockouts.
Sid
It was poetic justice that Ueki missed the penalty - how VAR never checked for one of the most blatant dives I've ever seen to get awarded one in the first place.
EFD
Do you have to go to a special school to this big of an a-hole or does it just come naturally to you?
Why don’t you say “congratulations “ Orr better yet, just shut your yap?
Fighto!
@ EFD - Just ignore Reggie. He's just a tiny little man with a hatred of Japan.
tomodachi3
Maaa.....sonna mon ka na...まああ。。。そんなもんかな。。。。
factchecker
NHK didn't give a stuff when this tournament started. Their judgement vindicated as they are only interested in showing when Japan wins.
Japantime
That was an unexpected result. Hard to believe that Japan lost after having been the best team of the championships so far.
Reginald Bok
Not a hatred of Japan, @fighto!, but a hatred of the fairweather nonsense that you and many others come out with whenever Japan play any kind of sport at any kind of tournament. Don't you feel a tiny bit weird being so gomasuri to anything Japan does?
It's bad enough having the fairweather weirdos on TV showing no interest until Japan does well, then feigning excitement.
Just wondering
As for being tiny, err..
EFD, do one.
EFD
Then go home back under your rock.
And if you can’t be nice, shut your fat yap.
kaimycahl
@Reginald Bok The Swedes just barely beat a not so good USA women's team in penalty kicks. I get it a win is a win but what with the crap "Bow down to the almost always superior Europeans, ladies". Go eat crow!!
Tamarama
Disappointed with the result.
Sweden were faster, bigger and looked intent on muscling the Japanese women off the ball, clearly something they had identified pre game and it worked well. They pressed hard when Japan were on the ball which negated Japan's passing game.
That being said, the handball penalty was really unlucky, and once Japan decided to play with 20 minutes to go they created multiple chances and were unlucky not to level. Had they done that, I think they would have run over the top of them in extra time and won.
A very good lesson for a young and skillful team.
cuddly
Perfectly valid point.
Japan had already lost to Sweden in the World Cup several times. Took two decades until the beat a European team in this event.
Facts don't care about feelings.
cuddly
Very valid point.
Weak, fair weather station.