After eliminating the four-time World Champions, the USA, on penalties last weekend, Blagult continued their fairytale with a dazzling victory against Japan.
The Japanese may have set their sights on revenge following their elimination at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 when the Europeans eliminated their hosts on their way to a silver medal.
The result may have come as a shock to many who fancied the Japanese side, which scored 17 goals in 4 games.
When the first half looked almost destined for a draw, Sweden came up with the decisive moment of the game. They took a deserved lead in the 32nd minute through Arsenal defender Amanda Ilestedt, in a game in which Japan looked like a shadow of themselves, failing to register a single shot on target in the first stanza.
The 2011 world champions couldn’t quite deal with Sweden’s intricate passes as their European opponents dictated play.
Too little, too late for Japan
Shortly after the resumption of the second half, Fūka Nagano appeared to have handled the ball in the box as play continued before VAR intervened. Sweden later put the game beyond reach with a second goal in the 51st minute, as Ingrid Filippa Angeldahl stepped up and scored the initial penalty expertly.
Japan showed flashes of a potential comeback with Riko Ueki missing a penalty in the 76th minute.
However, in the dying moments of the game, Nadeshiko pulled one back through Honoka Hayashi, who raced to thump a low shot home from 10 yards out. Unfortunately, that goal would prove to be the only consolation, with Sweden doing enough to warrant a place in the last four.
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Blagult will now face Spain in the semifinals. La Roja also knocked out the Netherlands earlier today with a 2-1 win in the semifinal.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup will now have a brand new winner after the elimination of Japan, who were the remaining former champions in the competition.
