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Quarter-Finals
Japan Join “Big Three” In Last Four In China
by Jeremy Ruane
Women's football's “big three” have been joined by Japan in the semi-finals of the 2008 Olympic Women's Football Tournament, although Germany and the USA required extra time to advance from their quarter-finals on Friday.
The first team to book their semi-final berth was Brazil, who conquered Norway 2-1 in Tianjin thanks to goals either side of half-time from Daniela - a thirty yard screamer - and Marta.
Siri Nordby halved the deficit seven minutes from time, but it wasn't enough for the Norwegians to prevent the Auriverdes' passage to the final four, where they will encounter opposition with whom they are becoming increasingly familiar.
It's not the USA, mind. They had quite an eventful clash with Canada in Shanghai, eventually prevailing 2-1 after extra-time in a match which was called off after nineteen minutes in the interests of player safety due to an intense electrical storm.
The reigning Olympic champions were already in charge by this point, thanks to Angela Hucles, but upon the resumption of play, the Canucks emerged the stronger side, and were rewarded when Christine Sinclair netted on the half-hour.
This roused the Americans, who gradually got on top of their cross-border rivals, who ultimately succumbed to Natasha Kai's extra-time winner, struck with twenty minutes still on the clock and which confirmed the USA would be the team to take on Asian opposition in the last four.
Japan's progress came at the expense of the host nation, China succumbing 2-0 to their Asian rivals in Qinhuangdao. Homare Sawa headed “Nadeshiko” in front on the quarter hour, and despite plenty of opportunities for the “Steel Roses” to draw level, they failed to take them, and were punished on the counter-attack ten minutes from time by Yuki Nagasato.
The final team to progress was Germany, who saw off Sweden 2-0 after extra time in Shenyang after a cagey affair saw neither team able to break the deadlock in regulation time - Germany's Melanie Behringer went closest when hitting the post late in the second spell.
Sweden's resistance buckled on the stroke of half-time in extra-time, with Kerstin Garefrekes heading home a Renate Lingor corner to put the reigning world champions in front. Five minutes from time, Simone Laudehr made sure of the win with a well-conceived second strike.
These results ironically set up repeats of matches which took place in group action. Brazil and Germany produced a scoreless draw in the opening clash of their group, while a Carli Lloyd crackerjack saw the USA past Japan in their encounter in Qinhuangdao.
The repeat of last year's FIFA Women's World Cup Final takes place in Shanghai, while Beijing will witness just its third women's fixture of the Olympics when the USA and Japan lock horns in the other semi, both of which take place on Monday.
Details:
Brazil 2 (Daniela (44), Marta (57)), Norway 1 (S. Nordby (83 pen)) HT 1-0
China 0, Japan 2 (H. Sawa (15), Y. Nagasato (80)) HT 0-1
Germany 2 (K. Garefrekes (105), S. Laudehr (115)), Sweden 0 HT 0-0 FT 0-0
USA 2 (A. Hucles (12), N. Kai (101)), Canada 1 (C. Sinclair (30)) HT 1-1 FT 1-1
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