Soccer Women’s World Cup
Now the last remaining world champion has been eliminated
Status: 12:12 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Kiko Seike (left) and Japan surprisingly lost against the Swedes around Stina Blackstenius
Credit: AFP/SAEED KHAN
The Dutch women have to bow out at the soccer World Cup. They are defeated by Spain in a dramatic quarter-final. In the second quarter-final of the day, the last world champion remaining in the tournament is eliminated.
The Japanese national team, which has been so convincing so far, was surprisingly eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. In the 1: 2 (0: 1) against Sweden on Friday, Honoka Hayashi’s goal came too late (87th minute) after Riko Ueki had previously put a penalty on the crossbar (76th). Amanda Ilestedt (32′) and Filippa Angeldal (51’/penalty) scored for the overall better Swedes in front of 43,217 spectators in Auckland.
In the semifinals next Tuesday, coach Peter Gerhardsson’s team will also meet Spain in Auckland (10:00 a.m. CEST). With the elimination of the Japanese, the last team that was world champion at least once was eliminated.
From the start, the Swedes gave the Japanese hardly any room for their dreaded combinations. While the 2011 world champion had little offensive ideas, Sweden’s attacks seemed more compelling. Stina Blackstenius missed the first good chance after a long ball, Ilestedt did better just before the break. After a free kick, the defender hit the lead from the crowd. Her fourth tournament goal was the first she scored with a foot. Kosovare Asllani missed the 2-0 before the break, her shot only hitting the inside post of the Japanese goal.
Spain wins in overtime
Another solid shot from Rytting Kaneryd was well parried by Ayaka Yamashita, but the following corner resulted in a hand penalty for Sweden. Angeldal converted safely. At the other end, Ueki, who was fouled, missed a flattering penalty for Japan, who came back with power in the closing stages. Kiko Seike circled a free kick to the crossbar, seconds later substitute Haysashi reduced it to 1:2. But the equalizer didn’t want to fall anymore.
Salma Paralluelo celebrates her winning goal
Which: REUTERS
In the second quarter-final of the day, Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 (1-1, 0-0) after extra time. Salma Paralluelo scored the decisive goal in the second half of extra time in Wellington with a precise shot into the far corner (111th minute). Maria Caldentey had previously given Spain the lead in Wellington with a converted hand penalty in the 81st minute. Captain Stefanie van de Gragt, who conceded the penalty against the Netherlands, made it 1-1 ten minutes later. Opponents in the semifinals are either the favored Japanese or the Swedes.
also read
Sustainable muscle building
“It’s important for all of us,” said 19-year-old goal scorer Paralluelo. “We made it. We fought to the end. We believed in ourselves.” Coach Jorge Vilda summed it up: “We’re going to keep making history. It was a game that was more difficult than it could have been.” His team “continued to fight” despite the Dutch team’s late equalizer in added time.
Hairy duel: Lieke Martens from the Netherlands (right) and Irene Guerrero from Spain
What: AFP/GRANT DOWN
also read
