Sweden storms into last four
Source: Agencies |
July 11, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LOTTA Schelin scored one goal and set up another yesterday as Sweden beat Australia 3-1 to reach the semifinals of the Women's World Cup.
Having set up Therese Sjogran for the opening goal in the 11th minute, Schelin made the match safe in the 52nd. She capitalized on a poor back pass from Kim Carroll, took one touch past goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri before slotting the ball into the unguarded net.
Lisa Dahlkvist scored Sweden's second goal in the 16th in front of 24,605 fans in Augsburg, Germany, before Ellyse Perry briefly gave Australia hope with a stunning effort in the 40th.
On Saturday, Japan upset Germany 1-0 in another quarterfinal in Wolfsburg and will play Sweden on Wednesday while France also advanced by beating England 4-3 on penalties after the score was tied at 1-1 through regulation and extra time.
Brazil was playing the United States in the last quarterfinal yesterday.
Japan absorbed relentless but dull German pressure for 108 minutes before hitting back with an exquisite counter to stun a host nation fully expecting a hat trick of titles. The victory gave Japan its first ever World Cup semifinal spot.
France also had all the moves against England yet needed an 88th-minute equalizer for 1-1 and then saw England crumble under pressure when its last two players failed to hit the target in the penalty shootout.
Hulking over their Japanese opponents, Germany was supposed to send the ball high and hope to continue its display of fine heading at the World Cup. And even if the ball sometimes fell kindly to Japan even German coach Silvia Neid had to admit the opponent had skills they didn't.
In midfield, Japan had Homare Sawa who combines leadership with vision, speed and endurance and the hosts could only watch in awe.
"I take my hat off to her," said Neid. "It is her fifth World Cup and she still plays so well."
Sawa set up substitute Karina Maruyama with a deep pass in extra time and the substitute outran the German defense and put Japan through with a drive from a tight angle to make the difference.
It was Germany's first loss in the tournament in a dozen years.
Having set up Therese Sjogran for the opening goal in the 11th minute, Schelin made the match safe in the 52nd. She capitalized on a poor back pass from Kim Carroll, took one touch past goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri before slotting the ball into the unguarded net.
Lisa Dahlkvist scored Sweden's second goal in the 16th in front of 24,605 fans in Augsburg, Germany, before Ellyse Perry briefly gave Australia hope with a stunning effort in the 40th.
On Saturday, Japan upset Germany 1-0 in another quarterfinal in Wolfsburg and will play Sweden on Wednesday while France also advanced by beating England 4-3 on penalties after the score was tied at 1-1 through regulation and extra time.
Brazil was playing the United States in the last quarterfinal yesterday.
Japan absorbed relentless but dull German pressure for 108 minutes before hitting back with an exquisite counter to stun a host nation fully expecting a hat trick of titles. The victory gave Japan its first ever World Cup semifinal spot.
France also had all the moves against England yet needed an 88th-minute equalizer for 1-1 and then saw England crumble under pressure when its last two players failed to hit the target in the penalty shootout.
Hulking over their Japanese opponents, Germany was supposed to send the ball high and hope to continue its display of fine heading at the World Cup. And even if the ball sometimes fell kindly to Japan even German coach Silvia Neid had to admit the opponent had skills they didn't.
In midfield, Japan had Homare Sawa who combines leadership with vision, speed and endurance and the hosts could only watch in awe.
"I take my hat off to her," said Neid. "It is her fifth World Cup and she still plays so well."
Sawa set up substitute Karina Maruyama with a deep pass in extra time and the substitute outran the German defense and put Japan through with a drive from a tight angle to make the difference.
It was Germany's first loss in the tournament in a dozen years.
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