England v. Japan

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England v. Japan

Cruellest Of Blows Sets Up 2011 Repeat

by Jeremy Ruane

An injury time own goal by England's Laura Bassett handed Japan a place in Sunday's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final in Vancouver, where they will meet the USA in a repeat of the thrilling 2011 Final in Germany.

It was the cruellest of blows for "The Lionesses", who were the better team in this Canada Day encounter at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, yet ended up going down 2-1 to the reigning world champions by virtue of Bassett's unfortunate error.

England nearly got off to the perfect start, Jodie Taylor firing a volley inches past the far post just forty seconds into the contest. But after Rumi Utsugi's cross-shot had been grabbed by Karen Bardsley at her near post in the sixth minute, the game became rather cagey in nature, with Japan's possession game gradually impacting upon proceedings.

That said, they were relying on long balls far more often than usual in this match, a result of England's pressurising of players in possession. A consequence of this saw Japan's final ball too often letting them down, in a contest where there were plenty of quality skill-laden individual cameos, but very little end product in general.

Something had to give, and it was an unlikely source which buckled. As regular readers of this writer's reports will be all too well aware, referee Anna-Marie Keighley almost never gives penalties. So to see her give two in seven minutes, both of which were incorrect …

The first of them came in the 31st minute, for a foul by Claire Rafferty on Saori Ariyoshi which took place a yard outside the area. The fullback landed inside it, and after hesitating, referee Keighley pointed to the spot, from where Aya Miyama, after a rather prolonged run-up, sent Bardsley decisively the wrong way.

Seven minutes later, Japan failed to clear a Fara Williams corner, and captain Steph Houghton went down a little too easily in the area under Yuki Ogimi's challenge. Once again, referee Keinzley pointed to the spot, from where Williams made no mistake to level the scores.

A long-range effort from Aya Sameshima landed on the roof of Bardsley's net in the shadows of the half-time whistle, while England's 'keeper had to be sharp to save at the feet of Ogimi seven minutes into the second spell, following Nahomi Kawasumi's through ball.

Buoyed by the entry to the fray of substitute Ellen White on the hour, England stormed back into the contest soon afterwards, Toni Duggan crashing a fifteen yard volley against the bar on receipt of a Lucy Bronze pass in the 62nd minute.

Two minutes later, Jill Scott caught Sameshima in possession, and the ball swiftly moved from Katie Chapman to White, who leathered an eighteen yarder which was tipped round the post by Japanese 'keeper Ayumi Kaihori, whose distribution throughout proceedings was abysmal.

Scott went desperately close with a header from a

Williams corner in the 66th minute, after which Japan, whose coach, Norio Sasaki, had been prowling his technical area - very uncharacteristic of him - threw a firecracker into the mix, in the shape of substitute Mana Iwabuchi.

Straight away, she rejuvenated Nadeshiko's game, taking on two opponents en route to the by-line, from where her cross into the goalmouth for Ogimi was scrambled clear by Bassett in desperate fashion.

Seconds later, Iwabuchi menaced the England defence again, deceiving three opponents before unleashing a fifteen yarder narrowly past Bardsley's right-hand post in the 73rd minute of a match which, until Iwabuchi's arrival, looked like it could be heading for extra time.

Iwabuchi ignited more trouble for "The Lionesses" in the 76th minute. Working her way to the by-line, she laid the ball back for Miyama to fire in a first-time cross to the far post, where Mizuho Sakaguchi rose to head the ball back across goal but past Bardsley's right-hand post.

England responded via teasing Rafferty cross-shot which had Kaihori worried, and with justification - it landed on top of the crossbar twelve minutes from time. Eight minutes later, Japan scrambled the ball to safety after Kaihori had punched out a Houghton free-kick under terrific pressure, seconds after Ogimi had gone down in the area under the challenge of England's captain - referee Keighley wasn't going to give a third penalty in a million years!

With extra time looming large, England pressed for a dramatic winner, but got stung on the counter-attack in the cruellest of fashions. Kawasumi led the charge, with Ogimi and Iwabuchi racing towards the near and far posts respectively, with two English defenders tracking back desperately to prevent them from capitalising on any opportunities which materialised.

One did, via an early cross by Kawasumi towards Ogimi, but Bassett was there first and thumped it … right into the top left-hand corner of Bardsley's net. It was a goal any striker would have been proud of, but for a defender to do it in the dying seconds of a World Cup semi-final … you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy.

Bassett was understandably heart-broken, and seconds later, the sound of the final whistle condemned England to a third place play-off against their old rivals Germany, as Japan celebrated their dramatic if unlikely victory, which confirmed a repeat of the Germany 2011 final between Nadeshiko and Team USA. Both should be fascinating contests.

England: Bardsley; Bronze (A. Scott, 76), Houghton, Bassett (booked, 31), Rafferty; Moore, Williams (Carney, 85), Chapman; J. Scott, Taylor (White, 60), Duggan

Japan: Kaihori; Ariyoshi, Iwashimizu, Kumagai, Sameshima; Kawasumi, Sakaguchi, Utsugi, Miyama; Ohno (Iwabuchi, 70), Ogimi (booked, 90)

Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley (New Zealand)

2015 Draw