Japan, Spain roll into FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals

Japan continued its run via the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Saturday, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Norway in Wellington, New Zealand.

Japan was 3-0 in group play, outscoring the opponents 11-0. Against Norway, Hinata Miyazawa capped the scoring within the 81st minute together with her fifth aim of the event, main all scorers and tying the objectives document for a participant from Japan in a World Cup.

Ingrid Syrstad Engen’s personal aim within the fifteenth minute gave Japan a 1-0 lead, however a Guro Reiten header within the twentieth minute despatched the match to a 1-1 tie at halftime.

For Japan, Risa Shimizu’s aim within the fiftieth minute proved to be the sport winner.

With 14 objectives, Japan already has outscored the 2011 crew that received the World Cup.

Norway did not have a lot of an opportunity to struggle again on Saturday as Japan possessed the ball for 65 p.c of the match.

“We knew Norway were going to play to their strength but all of our players really worked hard,” Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda stated. “We made several adjustments in the second half and it was great that they led to the goals and the win.”

Japan will play the winner of the match between Sweden and the United States within the quarterfinals.

Spain 5, Switzerland 1

Aitana Bonmati scored within the fifth minute and added a aim 31 minutes later to guide Spain to a victory and a quarterfinals berth in Auckland, New Zealand. The win is the primary ever within the knockout stage of any main event for Spain.

The Spaniards possessed the ball for 75 p.c of the match and managed 9 pictures on aim in comparison with only one for Switzerland. The solely aim for the Swiss got here on an personal aim by Spain’s Laia Codina when her move evaded goalkeeper Cata Coll and went into the web.

But that was all Switzerland would get. Bonmati’s second aim of the match, plus scores by Alba Redondo within the seventeenth minute and Codina within the forty fifth. gave Spain a 4-1 halftime lead. Jennifer Hermoso completed the scoring within the seventieth minute.

Spain outshot Switzerland 18-0 within the first half.

In the quarterfinals, Spain will face the Netherlands.

–Field Level Media/Reuters