With the game evenly poised at 1-1 and seemingly destined for extra time, a rare Dutch foray into Japan’s box drew a handball from Saki Kumagai. With barely a minute left on the clock, Lieke Martens did the rest to seal the Netherlands a place in the last eight for the first time.
The result means Netherlands will face Italy — which had earlier defeated China 2-0 to reach its first quarterfinals since 1991.
Martens had given the European champion the lead after just 16 minutes with a deft flick from a corner, but Japan, which has taken time to grow into this World Cup, soon began to find its feet and produced an equalizer just before halftime.
A great through ball from Mana Iwabuchi found Yui Hasegawa in space in the Dutch box, and the forward coolly finished over the head of Sari Van Veenendaal.
Buoyed by the goal, Nadeshiko played with greater energy for much of the second half, their fast interplay causing Netherlands — who fell to Japan at the same stage in 2015 — plenty of problems at the back.
Hasegawa, Hina Sugita and substitute Yuka Momiki all came close, but it was the Oranje who ultimately sealed the match as Martens dispatched her second goal from the spot.
Italy — World Cup dark horses?
It’s been a record breaking year for Europe’s World Cup participants and Italy had set the trend earlier on Tuesday by defeating China in Montpellier, equaling its best ever performance in the tournament.
For years an afterthought in a country where men’s football is treated like a religion — the men are four-time World Cup winners — the form of Italy’s women has been impossible to ignore. Le Azzurre topped a group which contained Australia and Brazil — two teams ranked inside the world’s top 10 — and has now disposed of former finalist China.
After the match, Italy coach Milena Bertolini told reporters: “This squad is made up of girls who have a lot of quality. They are good footballers and they’re performing well here because of that. But there’s a further aspect. They have a mission. Their mission is to try and have the Italian public to discover and appreciate the women’s game.
“This aspect helps you because it allows you to find that extra energy and motivation. I really believe this side has allowed the women’s game to break new ground back home. We can see that from the viewing figures, what we see in the press and from the messages we receive from back home.”
The Italians started brightly with Valentina Giancinti, the highest scorer in Italy’s top division last season, particularly impressing on a summery evening in Montpellier. She had one effort disallowed for offside and took another aim at distance before eventually finding the back of the net, pouncing from close range after goalkeeper Peng Shimeng Elisa Bartoli’s shot into the striker’s path.
China, which has only once failed to progress to the last eight prior to this match, grew into the match as the first half progressed. Wang Yan forced a fine save from Laura Giuliani while the Steel Roses also hit the woodwork before the break, though replays showed a goal would have been disallowed for offside.
But in the 49th minute substitute Aurora Galli doubled the advantage with a shot from the edge of the box, her fourth goal in five appearances, to secure a meeting with either the Netherlands or Japan.
China edged possession and completed nearly double the number of passes than its opponent but again scoring proved to be a problem — the Steel Roses only found the net once in France.
Source : Nbcnewyork
