Cup: Japan beats Norway and guarantees a place in the quarterfinals – 08/05/2023 – Sports

Japan beat Norway 3-1 in a quiet game this Saturday (5), at Wellington Regional, New Zealand. Now, the Asian team advances to the quarterfinals and will face the winner of the duel between the United States and Sweden, which will be played on Sunday (6).

Women’s World Cup champion in 2011 and runner-up in 2015, Japan is among the powers of women’s football.

At 15 minutes of the first half, Japan took the lead after player Ingrid Engen, from Norway, scored an own goal. Then, the European team reacted and tied in the 20th minute, with a headed goal by the Norwegian Guro Reiten.

In the second half, Japan scored in the 10th minute, with a goal by Risa Shimizu. Towards the end of the match, the Japanese top scorer Hinata Miyazawa scored the third to seal the team’s victory.

In the other match of the day, Spain thrashed Switzerland 5-1 at the Eden Park stadium.

In this Cup, Japan advanced to the knockout stage with the best campaign in Group C, with 9 points, in addition to thrashing Spain, 4-0. Only three teams advanced with 100% success: Japan, England and Sweden.

Runner-up in the first World Cup, in 1991, and champion in the second, in 1995, Norway sought to rediscover the glory days, but failed to defeat the Asian team.

The European team’s most recent best campaign was in 2007, when they finished fourth after being defeated by the USA. In the semifinals, they lost to Germany.

In this edition, they struggled to get past the group stage. It lost in its debut to New Zealand, drew with Switzerland and only advanced after winning over the Philippines.