Japan Stunned Norway 3-1 to reaches the 2023 Women's World Cup quarter-finals
Risa Shimizu scored the decisive goal before Hinata Miyazawa bagged her fifth of the tournament as Japan beat Norway 3-1 in the round of 16 to reach the Women's World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.
Japan took the lead in the 15th minute when Hinata Miyazawa skilfully chipped an ambitious cross from the centre of the pitch.
It met Norway's Ingrid Engen, who miscalculated her positioning and inadvertently deflected the ball into her own net, leaving a scrambling Aurora Mikalsen helpless, and the lack of communication gifted Japan the advantage.
In the second half, Norway handed Japan a chance which proved to be costly.
Yui Hasegawa’s pass in the box was intercepted, which seemed to mark the end of Japan’s attack, but Risa gave the ball away directly to Risa Shimizu, whose shot slightly deflected off Engen and found the back of the net, giving Japan a 2-1 lead.
Right at the start of added time, Aykaka Yamashita palmed away Karina Saevik's goal off the line to keep her side's comfortable lead in the final minutes.
WHAT"S NEXT.?
In a clash between two former champions, Japanese Futoshi Ikeda's squad easily move into the Women's World Cup last eight on Saturday and a meeting with holders the United States or Sweden in the quarterfinals on Friday.
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