Women’s World Cup Catch-up – Day Eighteen

 

FIFA Women’s World Cup’s Round of 16 comes to a conclusion on day 18, with holders Japan, looking to retain their crown, facing the impressive debutants Holland at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.

 

Japan 2 Holland 1

 

The Dutch struggled against an organised Japanese defence as Norio Sasaki’s side controlled possession from start to finish.

Holland did have an early chance but for midfielder Sherida Spitse’s effort to fly over the crossbar. Shortly after, Japanese forward Yumi Ogimi headed the ball onto the bar, but defender Saori Ariyoshi was on hand in the area to score the opener after 10 minutes.

Japan could have doubled their lead moments later as forward Shinobu Ohno and defender Aya Sameshima exchanged passes, but the latter’s shot blazed over the Dutch crossbar. The half ended with Japan’s Ohno heading narrowly wide.

The second half started as much as the first did when Holland’s captain Mandy Van Den Berg almost netted into her own goal following a dangerous cross by midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi.

Japan then had to clear the ball off their goal-line, with Sameshima blushes saved by goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori, before Dutch forward Kristen Van Den Ven’s effort was unable to breakthrough a sea of legs.

Van den Ven’s miss proved costly as Japan doubled their lead within a minute, as midfielder Mizuho Sakaguchi fired in from the edge of the area after a cleverly worked move.

Holland did get themselves on the scoresheet through Van den Ven’s injury time header, but proved too little too late for Roger Reijner’s side.

Holders Japan will now face Australia in the next round.

 

Japan:

Kaihori, Iwashimizu, Kumagai, Sameshima, Sakaguchi, Miyama ©, Kawasumi (Sawa 80), Ohno (Iwabuchi 66), Utsugi, Ogimi, Ariyoshi.

Holland:

Geurts, Van Lunteren, Van der Gragt, Van den Berg ©, Dekker, Melis, Spitse, Miedema, Van de Donk (Van den Ven 53), Martens, Van Dongen (Middag 86).

 

Full Quarter-Final Fixtures

Friday 26 June

21:00 – Germany v France – Olympic Stadium, Montreal.

00:30 – China PR v USA – Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa.

 

Saturday 27 June

21:00 – Australia v Japan – Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton.

00:30 – England v Canada – BC Place Stadium, Vancouver.