2023 Women’s World Cup: Sweden ends Japan's fiary run

Posted : 11 August 2023

European giant, Sweden have ended the Asian Tigress, Japan's fairy runs at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with a 2-1 defeat to the Asian super ladies.

Japan with nickname Nadeshiko's defeat came as Arsenal Defender, Amanda Ilestedt scored the curtain raiser from the fourth blocked free kick by the Japanese Defenders which rebound rolled to her and her bullet shot went through a forest of legs into goal.

It was her 4th goal at the tournament as she scored two goals against Italy and one against South Africa.

The Swedish second goal was from a penalty from a corner kick that went up the arms of Nagano. VAR had to stop the game and upon verification, Manchester City’s Filippa Angeldel who is using a pain killer to play the match having received a knock in the round of 16 neatly tucked in the penalty at 51st minute.

Sweden’s dream of a new world record of four consecutive clean sheets in a single tournament was first threatened by a penalty kick awarded Japan when Janogy brought down Ueki.

The resultant penalty kick by Ueki was played into the cross bar, and was saved. It was Hayashi who came from the bench that eventually made it 2-1.

The dent to the dream came in the 87th minute when Sweden failed to clear their lines neatly in a goal mouth scramble and West Ham United player, Hanoka

Japan mounted insurmountable pressure on the Swedish Defence especially in the last 20 minutes of the game but the Swiss babes survived the onslaught.

It became the second time loss in the knockout stages of the world cup against European opponents as the Tigresses of Asia lost to Netherlands in 2019. And the Japanese wept refusing to be consoled like the woman who wept in the Biblical Rama for her children. They were gallant in battle.

Sweden has now made their 5th semifinal at the world cup. It is the first time Sweden will reach consecutive semifinals in 2019 and 2023.

Japan is making her 9th appearance and were champions in 2011 at Germany where she beat USA 3-1 on penalties after 2-2 draw; were Silver Medalists at Canada 2015 where she lost to USA 5-2 at Vancouver; made quarterfinal at Sweden 1995 and the round of 16 at France 2019.

Sweden, the giant killers defeated USA 5-4 on penalties after a goalless full time in the round of 16. Earlier on July 23, they defeated South Africa 2-1 and; pounded Italy 5-0 on 29th July and also crashed Argentina 2-0 on August 2 all in the group matches.

Sweden never won the trophy; they were runners-up at USA 2003 and lost to Germany 1-2 at extra time. Sweden won Bronze three times at China 1991; Germany 2011 and France 2019. She was at the quarterfinals twice at Sweden 1995 and USA 1999 but was also at the round of 16 at Canada 2015.

Both sides met at the 2011 world cup on 13th July and Japan won 3-1; Japan won again on 20th June 2012 1-0; both played goalless draw on 28th July 2012; Japan rallied a win 2-1 on 10th March 2014; Sweden won on 21st July 2016; on 20th August 2020 Japan again won 2-0 and on 30th July 2021 Sweden was victorious 3-1.

It is the fourth quarterfinal of Japan at the world cup. Japan lost 0-4 to USA in 1995; won 1-0 over Germany in 2011 and got 1-0 victory over Canada in 2015.

Japan has lost five of six games played at the world cup knockout stages against European sides with the only defeat from Netherlands 1-2 in the round of 16 at France 2019.

2023 Women’s World Cup: Sweden ends Japan's fiary run

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