Saori Ariyoshi and Mizuho Sakaguchi scored to put defending
champions Japan through to a quarter-final showdown with Australia by beating
the Netherlands 2-1 at the Women's World Cup on Tuesday.
The Japanese controlled their last-16 game from the outset with
defender Ariyoshi scoring her first goal for the "Nadeshiko" after 10
minutes and midfielder Sakaguchi getting the second after 78 minutes.
Kirsten Van de Ven headed in a consolation goal for the
12th-ranked Dutch two minutes into injury time, helped by an error from
Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori, who let the ball slip through her grasp.
"We lost against a really good Japanese team,"
said Dutch coach Roger Reijners.
"If we hadn't had such strong opposition we might have
gotten something out of it. They are world champions and have great
players."
Japan coach Norio Sasaki admitted his world No.4 side, the
only Women's World Cup team to have won every match so far this tournament,
should have closed the game down earlier.
"We probably could have had better control of the ball,
but we had a tense moment," said Sasaki.
"We ended every attack with a shot on goal. That was
the key. I'm sorry we kept you in suspense until the end."
The champions overpowered the Dutch newcomers from the
outset and could have been further ahead at halftime but for some poor
finishing.
Japan took the lead when Ariyoshi scored from inside the box
10 minutes into the game.
Aya Sameshima missed a golden opportunity for a second after
22 minutes but hit over the bar from close range, and further chances also went
astray, with Shinobu Ohno firing over just before the halftime whistle.
After the break, Mandy Van den Berg almost inadvertently
turned home an own goal following Nahomi Kawasumi's cross.
Sakaguchi had a shot blocked at 67 minutes and defender Aya
Sameshima was saved by a superb block by Kaihori from a close range effort from
Van De Ven on 76 minutes.
But two minutes later, Sakaguchi got the winner from the
edge of the penalty area, with a last-gasp effort from Vivianne Miedema failing
to get an equaliser.
"Aya Miyama passed to me. I thought I should try even
if it's not my strong point," Sakaguchi said.
In other last-eight fixtures, top-ranked Germany play
third-ranked France in Montreal on Friday while China take on Olympic champions
United States in Ottawa and hosts Canada clash with England at Vancouver on
Saturday.
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