WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Japan scored its 14th objective of the Women’s World Cup and conceded its first Saturday, beating Norway 3-1 to succeed in the quarterfinals for the fourth time.

Hinata Miyazawa sealed the win along with her fifth objective of the event within the 81st minute to stay the main scorer. Risa Shimizu’s Fiftieth-minute objective adopted an Ingrid Syrstad Engen personal objective within the first half to assist in giving Japan its fourth straight win of the event.

With 5 targets the 23-year-old Miyazawa equals the file for a Japan participant at a World Cup. Homare Sawa scored 5 in 2011 when Japan gained the event. She gained the Golden Boot that 12 months.

This Japan group already has scored extra targets than the 2011 group.

Guro Reiten headed an outstanding objective for Norway within the twenty first minute to finish Japan’s flawless defensive efficiency and depart the groups locked 1-1 a halftime.

After beating Spain 4-0 with solely 23% of possession in its group-stage finale, Japan as soon as once more was a tactical chameleon within the spherical of 16 - taking part in with greater than 60% of possession in a commanding efficiency.

Japan traded its common blue uniform for pastel colours Saturday, pink and purple. The softer coloration scheme did nothing to uninteresting its attacking type; it pressed ahead from the beginning and had its first nook after two minutes.

“We knew Norway were going to play to their strength but all of our players really worked hard,” Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda mentioned. “We made a number of changes within the second half and it was nice that they led to the targets and the win.

“Whether we are No 1, we will find out if we continue winning. We will find out at the end.”

While it was ineffective, it was an early declaration of intent. With lengthy balls or sharp, fast passing, Japan frequently pressed ahead and Norway, which conceded just one objective in group play, typically appeared rattled on the again.

When the protection lastly yielded, it was in uncommon circumstances. In the fifteenth minute Miyazawa curled the ball in from depth on the left and Engen prolonged her leg to parry the ball. She managed solely to deflect it large of Aurora Mikalsen in objective for the eighth personal objective of the event.

Japan appeared properly on prime however within the twenty first minute, and from the primary time within the match Norway had threatened, Vilda Boe Rise received away on the appropriate, took the ball to the byline and crossed to the center the place Guro Reiten stood tall and headed large of the diving Ayaka Yamashita into the left nook.

The objective got here fully in opposition to the run of play. After a half-hour, Japan had 183 accomplished passes to Norway’s 88, had greater than 60%, 5 photographs on objective. Miyazawa, Aoba Fujino, Jun Endo and others had been threatening.

Shimizu’s winner got here within the Fiftieth minute as Japan pushed ahead once more from midway. Miyazawa tried to carry up the ball close to objective, misplaced possession to Boe Risa, who tried a again move however rolled the ball into the trail of Shimizu dashing in from the appropriate to attain.

“There is still a long way to go but after we felt frustrated in 2019, I feel like we’ve overcome an obstacle,” Shimizu mentioned. “We’ll head to the following one, however I really feel we received a very nice victory at this time.

“Among us there were only positive words. Even when it became 1-1, no one has a negative mood. We could play in a very positive way.”

Miyazawa produced a copybook end within the 81st, operating onto an outstanding by ball and directing her shot large of Mikalsen.

Norway and Japan had met solely as soon as earlier than at a World Cup, in 1999, when Norway gained 4-0. Current Norway coach Hege Riise scored on objective in that match. On Saturday, Riise watched and admired the brand new Japan group and the standard of its attacking play.

“’I’ve seen them play in the group stage and they are a great team with a lot of good players and tactics,” Riise mentioned. “The plan was for us to be robust in protection and never allow them to play an excessive amount of into us.

“But they did well. We played solid defense some times but not quite good enough. Regardless of who and how to play in the back five, I would say Japan was stronger than us.”

Former Ballon d’Or-winner Ada Hegerberg began on the bench for Norway and was launched late, indicating her health nonetheless could not have been as much as scratch.”

Japan now will play the winner of Sweden and the United States.

___ AP World Cup protection: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup

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