Japan took a step closer to a second Women’s World Cup title when they beat Norway to reach the quarter-finals.
The 2011 champions made the ideal start when Norway defender Ingrid Engen turned Hinata Miyazawa’s cross into her own net.
However, Norway equalised a few minutes later when Guro Reiten headed home.
Risa Shimizu’s heavily defected strike restored Japan’s lead before Hinata Miyazawa raced through to score a third and seal her side’s progress.
The goal cemented Japan’s place in the quarter-finals and kept Miyazawa on target for the Golden Boot – she leads the scoring charts in Australia and New Zealand on five.
Norway were second best for much of the game but almost set up an exciting finish when goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita superbly kept out Karina Saevik’s bullet header.
Japan will play either defending champions the United States or Sweden in the last eight.
Slick Japan keep on rolling
Japan are seeking their first Women’s World Cup title in 12 years and they have barely put a foot wrong at this tournament.
They breezed through the group stage without dropping a point, including an eye-catching 4-0 win against fellow quarter-finalists Spain in their final group game.
In that game they played devastating counter-attacking football – winning despite having just 23% possession to show they can dig in and grind out victory against a tough opponent.
Reiten’s goal is the first they have conceded at this World Cup but apart from that header they once again delivered a strong defensive display.
On the rare occasion their defence was beaten, Yamashita was there to make an incredible save.
Toothless Norway pay the price
Norway were hoping to reach the quarter-finals of a Women’s World Cup for a second successive tournament – but in truth they have been out of sorts in 2023.
The 6-0 victory against the Philippines in their final group fixture ended a run of six games without a win and Japan were always going to provide a sterner test.
Norway’s cause at this tournament has not been helped by an injury to star forward Ada Hegerberg, who had not played since the 1-0 loss to New Zealand in their opening fixture prior to taking a place on the bench in Saturday’s game.
She came on with 16 minutes remaining in the last-16 game but could not affect the outcome.
It is unlikely that even a fully fit Hegerberg could have changed much against Japan, who had their opponents pegged back inside their own half for almost all of the second half.
Player of the match
ReitenGuro Reiten
Japan
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Squad number1Player nameYamashita
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Squad number7Player nameMiyazawa
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Squad number14Player nameHasegawa
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Squad number13Player nameEndo
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Squad number15Player nameFujino
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Squad number2Player nameShimizu
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Squad number10Player nameNagano
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Squad number11Player nameTanaka
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Squad number3Player nameMinami
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Squad number12Player nameTakahashi
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Squad number4Player nameKumagai
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Squad number9Player nameUeki
Norway
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Squad number11Player nameReiten
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Squad number18Player nameMaanum
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Squad number6Player nameMjelde
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Squad number10Player nameGraham Hansen
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Squad number14Player nameHegerberg
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Squad number23Player nameMikalsen
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Squad number7Player nameEngen
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Squad number13Player nameBjelde
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Squad number22Player nameHaug
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Squad number8Player nameBøe Risa
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Squad number20Player nameHaavi
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Squad number4Player nameHansen
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Squad number16Player nameHarviken
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Squad number9Player nameSævik
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Squad number3Player nameHørte
Line-ups
Japan
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Yamashita
- 12Takahashi
- 4Kumagai
- 3Minami
- 2Shimizu
- 14Hasegawa
- 10Nagano
- 13Endo
- 7Miyazawa
- 11TanakaSubstituted forUekiat 72′minutes
- 15Fujino
Substitutes
- 5Miyake
- 6Sugita
- 8Naomoto
- 9Ueki
- 16Hayashi
- 17Seike
- 18Tanaka
- 19Moriya
- 20Hamano
- 21Hirao
- 22Chiba
- 23Ishikawa
Norway
Formation 4-3-3
- 23Mikalsen
- 13BjeldeSubstituted forHørteat 88′minutes
- 6Mjelde
- 16Harviken
- 4HansenSubstituted forHegerbergat 74′minutes
- 7Engen
- 8Bøe RisaSubstituted forMaanumat 63′minutes
- 11Reiten
- 10Graham Hansen
- 22Haug
- 20HaaviSubstituted forSævikat 63′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Fiskerstrand
- 2Sønstevold
- 3Hørte
- 5Bergsvand
- 9Sævik
- 12Pettersen
- 14Hegerberg
- 15Eikeland
- 17Blakstad
- 18Maanum
- 19Bratberg Lund
- 21Jøsendal
- Referee:
- Edina Alves Batista
- Attendance:
- 33,042
Live Text
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Match ends, Japan 3, Norway 1.
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Second Half ends, Japan 3, Norway 1.
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Attempt missed. Aoba Fujino (Japan) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Fuka Nagano following a fast break.
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Attempt blocked. Sara Hørte (Norway) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Caroline Graham Hansen with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Karina Sævik (Norway) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Sophie Haug with a headed pass.
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Corner, Japan. Conceded by Aurora Mikalsen.
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Attempt blocked. Riko Ueki (Japan) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hinata Miyazawa.
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Substitution, Norway. Sara Hørte replaces Thea Bjelde.
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Attempt saved. Yui Hasegawa (Japan) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Riko Ueki (Japan).
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Delay in match because of an injury Ingrid Engen (Norway).
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Offside, Japan. Aoba Fujino tries a through ball, but Hinata Miyazawa is caught offside.
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Riko Ueki (Japan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Frida Maanum (Norway).
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Attempt missed. Ada Hegerberg (Norway) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Guro Reiten with a cross.
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Offside, Japan. Moeka Minami tries a through ball, but Aoba Fujino is caught offside.
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Goal! Japan 3, Norway 1. Hinata Miyazawa (Japan) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aoba Fujino with a through ball following a fast break.
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Riko Ueki (Japan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Mathilde Harviken (Norway).
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