Japan comfortably made their way into the last eight of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 with a well-claimed 3-1 victory over Norway at the Wellington Regional Stadium. An unfortunate Ingrid Syrstad Engen's own goal was canceled out by a fine Guro Reiten header midway through the first half. Guro Reiten's header is the first goal Japan have conceded at Australia & New Zealand in 2023. Second-half goals from Risa Shimizu and Adidas Golden Boot-chasing Hinata Miyazawa wrapped up the win for the Nadeshiko. Japan will now play either Sweden or the reigning champions USA in the quarter-finals.
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"There is still a long way to go, but after I felt frustrated in 2019, I feel like I've overcome an obstacle. We'll head to the next one, but I feel we got a really great victory today. The ball came into my path. I had a similar chance in the first half but I made a shot without controlling the ball. I was thinking I would do it more calmly next time, and I'm glad it went in. A lot of many crosses were coming from the left flank, so I kept running forward thinking that one would come to me. 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."
- Risa Shimizu, Japan goalscorer
Match Details
- Date: 05/08/2023 (Thursday, August 5)
- Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
- Time: GMT – 8:00 pm and IST – 1:30 am
- Live Streaming: Fancode and DD sports
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Japan vs Norway - Live Blog
Match Preview
The 2011 Women's World Cup winners began their campaign with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Zambia. In their next match, they defeated Costa Rica by 2 goals to nil and qualified for the Round of 16 stage with ease. In their last group stage, They demolished La Roja by 4-0 to finish top of Group C.
The group stage was far from straightforward for a Norway side that began their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 with a 1-0 defeat to the tournament co-hosts New Zealand. In the next match, they faced Switzerland and experienced a frustrating 0-0 draw. They really came into their grove in the third Group stage encounter against the Philippines. It was a goal fest where Norway netted the ball 6 times in the Philippine goal.
Lineups | 12:50 P.M (IST)
Japan: Yamashita, Takahashi, Kumagai, Minami, Shimizu, Nagano, Hasegawa, Endo, Fujino, Mina Tanaka, Miyazawa.
Subs: Momoko Tanaka, Miyake, Sugita, Naomoto, Ueki, Hayashi, Seike, Moriya, Hamano, Chiba, Ishikawa, Hirao.
Norway: Mikalsen, Bjelde, Mjelde, Harviken, Tuva Hansen, Engen, Risa, Reiten, Caroline Hansen, Haug, Haavi.
Subs: Fiskerstrand, Sonstevold, Horte, Bergsvand, Saevik, Hegerberg, Eikeland, Blakstad, Maanum, Lund, Josendal, Pettersen.
Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil).
They both know what it feels like to lift the coveted #FIFAWWC trophy. 🏆
But only one can continue. 🇯🇵🇳🇴— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 5, 2023
They are ready. Are you?
In the zone. 👊
🇯🇵 v 🇳🇴 next! #FIFAWWC | #BeyondGreatness— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 5, 2023
The kits
Japan will switch out of their first-choice blue kit into pink and purple tonight but Norway get to wear their red.
キックオフまで...
あと15分🔹
今日も、
つかもう、
勝利を。
みんなで🤝
🏆FIFA 女子 #ワールドカップ 2023 🇦🇺🇳🇿
⚔️ラウンド16
⌚️17:00(🇯🇵)
🆚ノルウェー代表🇳🇴
📺NHK総合(18:45~Eテレ)/NHK+
📱💻FIFA+
🔗https://t.co/nKJjh3VsTH#BEYOURBESTSELF #最高の自分であれ#FIFAWWC… pic.twitter.com/8lHZXh9pe4— JFAなでしこサッカー (@jfa_nadeshiko) August 5, 2023
National Anthems
The teams are out. It is time for the national anthems.
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | Kick off
Japan get the match started.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 4'
Nadeshiko Japan are seeing quite a lot of the ball in these early exchanges.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 7'
Futoshi Ikeda's side is in complete control.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 10'
Norway can't get into this game at all.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 14'
Endo tears down the left again and wins a corner. Fujino curls it in. Tanaka wins a header and sends the ball towards the bottom right. Roman Haug blocks on the line and clears.
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Japan vs Norway | Goal for Japan | 15'
A goal had been coming and it finally came for Japan. Miyazawa cuts inside and crosses. Engen sticks out a leg to block only to send the ball bouncing slowly towards the bottom left. Mikalsen is out of position. She isn't able to spin and scramble back to scoop away in time. The ball rolls into the net, and Japan are in the lead. It's an own goal from Norway.
Japan are ahead at the Wellington Regional Stadium! 🇯🇵
A strong start for @JFA_Nadeshiko! 💪#FIFAWWC | #BeyondGreatness— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 5, 2023
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 19'
Hansen ships possession carelessly in the centre circle, allowing Miyazawa to tear towards the Norwegian box. Harviken blocks the eventual shot.
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Japan vs Norway | Goal for Norway | 20'
Norway attack for the first time and Japan's defence is breached at this World Cup for the first time. Risa reaches the byline and pulls back a cross. Reiten rises and plants an unstoppable header across Yamashita and into the top left. A brilliant finish, and out of nowhere, Norway are back in the game.
✨ @Guro_Reiten makes history for #NOR!
A century of goals at the #FIFAWWC! 💯👏 pic.twitter.com/3PkkNUAnUB— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 5, 2023
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 26'
Norway have gained confidence after the equaliser.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 28'
Tanaka had a chance but Norway's defenders clear the ball.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 34'
Japan continue to press and probe without making any significant inroads.
Futoshi Ikeda's side is keeping possession | 38'
Japan get back to pinging it around in the patient style.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 43'
Hasegawa rolls a delicious pass down the inside-left channel for Endo, who should collect and bear down on goal but she misreads and allows the ball to sail out for a goal kick.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 45'
Two added minutes.
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Japan (1) vs Norway (1) | Full time
Japan have been the dominant side, but Norway have stood firm. Both sides have reason to be happy with their performance.
#JPN 1-1 #NOR
Game on at the Wellington Regional Stadium! 👊— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 5, 2023
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | Second half - Kick off
Norway get the second half started. No changes.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 49'
Reiten pings a first-time pass down the inside-left channel but Roman Haug doesn't read it.
Women's World Cup 2023: Japan vs Norway | 2nd Goal for Japan | 50'
Miyazawa tries to control on the penalty spot, her back to goal. She can't keep possession. The ball breaks to Risa, who inexplicably rolls it towards Shimizu, rushing in from the right. Shimizu shoots. It deflects off the luckless Engen and into the bottom right.
#JPN go ahead through Shimizu! 💪#FIFAWWC | #BeyondGreatness
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 5, 2023
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 57'
The Nadeshiko Japan are now happy to sit back and let Norway have the ball.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 62'
Futoshi Ikeda's side continues to dominate possession. Norway are having to dig in.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 68'
Fujino stands on Roman Haug's foot. Accidental but clumsy, and the Norway striker will have felt that. A brief pause for some treatment.
Norway are unable to keep the ball - Live Blog | 71'
Japan have enjoyed 70 percent of possession during the last ten minutes. Norway just 21.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 75'
Nothing comes off the corner.
Women's World Cup 2023: Japan vs Norway | 3rd Goal for Japan | 81'
Miyazawa takes a touch before entering the box and rolling into the bottom right. It's the third for Japan and they are all set to advance to the Quarter-Finals.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 85'
Fujino feeds Miyazawa again, her diagonal pass releasing her into the Norway box on the left. Instead of shooting, Miyazawa looks for Ueki in the middle. Poor choice as Norway clear.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 90'
There will be five additional minutes.
Norway are not at Japan's level right now | 90+3'
Japan clear their lines and move upfield. The clock is their friend now.
Japan vs Norway - Live Blog | 90+6'
Japan break and look for a fourth, but Fujino hoicks over the bar.
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Japan (3) vs Norway (1) - Live Blog | Full time
Japan will play either Sweden or the reigning champions USA in the quarter-finals.
Job done for #JPN! 😎@JFA_Nadeshiko | #FIFAWWC
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 5, 2023