Second-half goals from Risa Shimizu and Hinata Miyazawa saw Japan defeat Norway 3-1 to reach the Quarter-Finals of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Miyazawa struck a 81st minute counter-attack strike to complete a 3-1 win and net her fifth goal of the tournament, which sent Japan through to the Quarter-Finals as they avoided another Round of 16 exit for a second consecutive Women’s World Cup.
Ingrid Syrstad Engen’s 15th minute own goal deflection of Jun Endo cross had earlier put Japan in front, only for Guro Reiten to equalise from Vide Bøe Risa cross five minutes later.
Shimizu however restored Japan’s lead with a close-range strike after she had intercepted Bøe Risa’s clearance in the 50th minute.
Japan will meet the winner of Sweden’s tie against reigning champions – USA in the Quarter-Finals, at Eden Park, Auckland on Friday 11 August at 9am UK Time, whilst 1995 winners – Norway head home with a difficult campaign now over.
Japan entered this game as heavy favourites after failing to concede in Group C during which they ruthlessly dismantled Spain last time out, which only served as the base for a bright early start as the Japanese forced Aurora Mikalsen into two saves in the opening minute.
Yui Hasegawa missed a chance to put the 2011 winners ahead in the sixth minute as she rifled a shot wide of the top-left corner, after Jun Endo’s cross had been blocked by Norway’s resilient defensive line.
Hinata Miyazawa then curled wide of the top-right corner two minutes later whilst Mina Tanaka saw a 14th minute header denied by Sophie Roman Haug.
Japan’s early pressure eventually was rewarded in the 15th minute with an own-goal, as Endo whipped in a cross which Syrstad Engen could only deflect into her own bottom left corner.
Norway meanwhile lacked a penerating edge to their attacking adventures into Japan’s half until Miikalsen’s 20th minute goal-kick unexpectedly found Bøe Risa, who whipped in a deep cross from the right which Reiten bullet headed into the left corner to restore parity.
Reiten’s header also marked the first time that Japan had conceded at this tournament.
Hege Riise’s Norwegians however found themselves defending their equaliser for the rest of the first-half, as Tanaka, Hasegawa and Risi Shimizu all saw chances denied with Japan comfortably on top at half-time.
Futoshi Ikeda’s Japan however refused to relent in their attacking pressure upon the restart as Hasegawa forced an early save by Mikalsen.
Norway failed to heed that early second-half warning and were duly punished four minutes later as Hasegawa collected a pass into the box, only for Bøe Risa to intercept but sluggishly play straight to Shimizu who rifled in from close-range to put Japan back in front.
Japan’s attacking intensity and control of tempo refused to let up and substitute, Riko Ueki almost secured victory in the 73rd minute, only for her shot to be blocked by Maren Mjelde’s header which Mikalsen saved.
That chance sparked Norway into life as Caroline Graham Hansen, Haug and Karin Saevik all saw chances go begging in an improved attacking spell.
Miyazawa however punished Norway’s sloppy end product to complete Japan’s victory in the 81st minute, as she collected Aoba Fujino’s counter-attack pass and calmly rolled her shot in beyond Mikalsen to net her fifth goal at this World Cup.
Spain meanwhile smashed Switzerland in a 5-1 victory with Aitana Bonmati netting twice in the opening Round of 16 tie, with the Spanish now set to face either the Netherlands or South Africa in the Quarter-Finals.
Teams
Japan: Ayaka Yamashita, Hana Takahashi, Saki Kumagai, Moeka Minami, Risa Shimizu, Yui Hasegawa, Fuka Nagano, Jun Endo, Hinata Miyazawa, Mina Tanaka (Ueki 72′), Aoba Fujino
Substitutes: Shiori Miyake, Hina Sugita, Hikaru Naomoto, Riko Ueki, Honoka Hayashi, Kiko Seike, Momoko Tanaka, Miyabi Moriya, Maika Hamano, Chika Hirao, Remina Chiba, Rion Ishikawa
Norway: Aurora Mikalsen, Thea Bjelde (Høorte 88′), Maren Mjelde, Mathilde Harviken, Tuva Hansen (Hegerberg 74′), Ingrid Syrstad Engen, Vilde Bøe Risa (Maanum 63′), Guro Reiten, Caroline Graham Hansen, Sophie Roman Haug, Emilie Haavi (Saevik 63′)
Substitutes: Cecilie Fiskerstrand, Anja Sønstevold, Sara Hørte, Guro Bergsvand, Karin Saevik, Guro Pettersen, Ada Hegerberg, Amalie Eikeland, Julie Blakstad, Frida Maanum, Marit Bratberg Lund, Anna Jøsendal
Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil)
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