Japan defeated Norway to win the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup to advance to the quarterfinals against hosts the United States and Sweden.
Japan are on a mission to bury the memory of their disappointing exit from the last 16 in 2019 and then go on to play the winner of Saturday’s clash between holders USA and Sweden between Sundays
Hinata Miyazawa scored her fifth goal of the game as Japan beat former champions Norway 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup
Japan looked to be right on top however in the 21st minute, and Norway threatened for the first time in the match Wilda Boe Risa pulled away from the right and took the ball to the byline and crossed the middle where Guro Reiten stopped long and nodded the wide dipping Ayaka Yamashita on the left
The goal came up against the run of play. Shimizu’s winner came in the 50th minute as Japan again pushed ahead from the half. Miyazawa tried to keep the ball close to goal, he lost his hands to Boe Risa, he tried to keep the ball behind but the ball rolled into the path of Shimizu as he rushed in for the ball from the right
Miyazawa produced a copybook finish on 81st, running into an excellent through ball and guiding his shot behind Mikalsen.
Norway and Japan have only met once at the World Cup, in 1999 when Norway won 4-0.