The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and Opinions
The Sports Lowdown’s coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup continues and on day 22, could the hosts Canada and holders Japan join Germany and the USA into the last fourof the tournament or would England or Australia continue their World Cup dreams?
AUSTRALIA 0 JAPAN 1
Holders Japan continued their World Cup title defence against the tournaments ‘Dark Horses’ Australia in Edmonton.
Japan’s Shinobu Ohno was as lively as ever with numerous creative touches, most notably a near post flick that went agonisingly wide following midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi’s low cross.
Aussie forward Samantha Kerr looked dangerous on the Counter-Attack, and won a free-kick after one particular run, but compatriot Alanna Kennedy could only strike wide.
Japanese defender Azusa Iwashimizu’s strong header from a corner was cleared off the line by the ever impressive defensive work of Elise Kellond-Knight in the heart of the Matildas back-line.
Norio Sasaki’s Japan pressed even more after the break, with Captain Aya Miyama missing narrowly after her classy flick between her own legs at the near post.
Then with 3 minutes remaining, 22 year old Japanese substitute Mana Iwabuchi turned the ball home after Alen Stajcic’s side failed to clear their lines following Aussie keeper Lydia Williams’ block on Iwashimizu’s effort.
Japan:
Kaihori, Iwashimizu, Kumagi, Sameshima, Sakaguchi (Sawa 90), Miyama ©, Kawasumi, Ohno (Iwabuchi 72), Utsugi, Ogimi, Ariyoshi.
Australia:
Williams, Alleway, Catley, Kellond-Knight, Foord, Van Egmond, De Vanna © (Crummer 76), Kennedy, Simon (Sykes 89), Gorry (Heyman 76), Kerr.
ENGLAND 2 CANADA 1
Two quick-fire goals saw Mark Sampson’s Lionesses knock out the tournaments hosts Canada at the quarter-final stage.
Canada Captain Christine Sinclair crafted the first opportunity of the game when she nut-megged Notts County’s Laura Bassett before finding teammate Melissa Tancredi in space with a sublime pass, but Tancredi’s effort sailed harmlessly over Karen Bardsley’s bar.
Then after defender Lauren Sesselmann lost her footing whilst on the ball, England forward Jodie Taylor pounced, sprinted clear and then side-stepped Allysha Chapman’s challenge before firing an accurate driven strike past Erin McLeod.
England then double their advantage moments later after Lucy Bronze headed in off the crossbar following a Fara Williams free-kick to stun a partisan crowd in Vancouver.
Canada managed to drag themselves back in to the game however, through their talisman forward Sinclair. The Canadian skipper poked home after Bardsley spilled an Ashley Lawrence shot.
But Despite having a hefty crowd behind them, John Herdman’s side were unable to grab an equaliser as England looked ever dangerous on the counter.
England and Holders Japan will now play for a place in the World Cup Final. The match in Edmonton will take place on Wednesday 1st July with the kick-off at Midnight.
England:
Bardsley (Chamberlain 52), Rafferty, Williams (White 79), Houghton ©, Bassett, J. Scott, Carney (Stoney 90+3), Moore, Bronze, K. Chapman, Taylor.
Canada:
McLeod, Buchanan, Wilkinson (Matheson 62), Belanger, Sesselmann, D. Scott (Kyle 77), Sinclair ©, Schmidt, Tancredi (Leon 71), A. Chapman, Lawrence.
