Sweden beat Japan to advance to semi-final with Spain

Sweden produced a magnificent performance to book a semi-final date with Spain and leave Japan’s Women’s World Cup dreams in tatters.

Here they fell behind Amanda Ilestedt’s goal before Manchester City midfielder Filippa Angeldahl doubled Sweden’s lead from the penalty spot.

Japan were awarded a controversial penalty but Riko Ueki’s 76th-minute attempt hit the bar, before West Ham’s Honoka Hayashi netted a goal in the 87th minute.

That lifeline came moments after Aoba Fujino hit the woodwork with a free kick, but Sweden saw the game end in the last four.

New Arsenal defender Ilestedt has become a player of the tournament and now has four goals.

She struck from the edge of the penalty area in the 32nd minute after Japan failed to clear.

Goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita kept Japan in the competition when she tipped an attempt by Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani over the post, while Stina Blackstenius had previously missed a glorious chance as the game was goalless.

There seemed to be no coming back for Japan when Angeldahl doubled the lead after the video assistant referee (VAR) spotted a handball from Japanese Liverpool midfielder Fuka Nagano.

Japan have shone at this World Cup, scoring 14 times in their previous four matches.

But they struggled to sufficiently test Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic at Eden Park as Sweden fell within a win of a first World Cup final since 2003, when they lost to Germany in the final in the United States.

More soon.