Japan vs Sweden 1-2: Women’s World Cup 2023 – as it happened

Two quarter-finals down and two to come tomorrow.

Spain and Sweden have booked their place in the last four, now attention turns to Saturday’s matches including a mouthwatering clash between hosts Australia and France.

There’s also a tasty looking tie in Sydney as England face Colombia.

We’ll be bringing you live coverage of both of those games tomorrow.

Thanks for joining us today!

We have the lineup for the first semi-final at this Women’s World Cup.

After tonight’s victory in Auckland, Sweden will face Spain on Tuesday.

That match will also be played at Eden Park.

Earlier today, Spain booked a place in their first ever World Cup semi-final after beating the Netherlands 2-1 after extra time.

You can read more about that game here. 

With Japan’s defeat, all of the former Women’s World Cup winners have been eliminated from the tournament.

We’ll have a new name on the trophy in Sydney next Sunday.

Sweden are looking to have a real chance. After knocking out both the USA and Japan they will fancy their chances for the rest of the tournament.

Abba rings out around Eden Park.

Mamma Mia is one way of describing that second half.

Japan threw everything at Sweden. Some of their players are in tears, they gave their all today.

Fair play to the Swedish players who are comforting their heartbroken opponents.

Sweden have hung on!

They will play Spain in the semi-finals.

Full-time: Japan 1-2 Sweden

Sweden have done well to break up the almost constant waves of Japanese attacks.

The Swedish defence have worked their socks off in the second half and they are tiring now.

There are some desperate shouts for a penalty for Japan after Ueki falls in the box but the replay shows that she just slipped over when trying to get a shot off.

90+9 mins: Japan 1-2 Sweden

Shimizu sends in a testing cross from the right, but Musovic is equal to it and firmly punches the ball away.

Janogy then takes the ball up-field and does well to slow down the pace of the game and give the Swedish defence a breather.

90+7 mins: Japan 1-2 Sweden

Sweden win a corner. They opt against keeping the ball in the corner and instead it’s fired in towards the six-yard box, but Japan deal with the danger.

Japan are straight back on the attack, they are throwing everything at this.

90+6 mins: Japan 1-2 Sweden

Sweden defend a free kick from a dangerous position.

Endo swings the ball in from the left but Hurtig gets up to firmly head the ball away.

The stadium sounds like it is fully behind this Japan comeback.

90+4 mins: Japan 1-2 Sweden

Panic at the back for Sweden!

A ball into the box isn’t dealt with and Musovic has to dive to push the ball away.

A Sweden defender slices the clearance but it’s scrambled away.

Seike then snatches at a shot inside the Sweden box, drilling the ball past the left post.

Japan make another change with Maika Hamano on for Hana Takahashi.

90 +2 mins: Japan 1-2 Sweden

We’ve just seen a replay of that Fujino free kick. I have no idea how it stayed out. It looks like it hit the crossbar, the post and the back of Musovic.

It’s all Japan now, they are desperate for an equaliser.

Ten minutes added on!

90 mins: Japan 1-2 Sweden

Hayashi pulls one back!

Shortly after Fujini had crashed a free kick onto the crossbar, Japan finally have a goal.

Endo whips the ball into the box from the left. Seike takes a shot which is saved by Musovic but the rebound falls to Hayashi who is alert and fires home.

Game on!

86 mins: Japan 1-2 Sweden

Sweden also make a double substitution:

Off: Johanna Kaneryd, Elin Rubensson

On: Sofia Jakobsson, Hanna Bennison

84 mins: Japan 0-2 Sweden

Off: Fuka Nagano, Hinata Miyazawa

On: Honoka Hayashi, Kiko Seike

81 mins: Japan 0-2 Sweden

Eriksson is down hurt after being clattered into by Ueki who was late into the challenge.

That’s Japan’s first yellow card of the whole tournament!

79 mins: Japan 0-2 Sweden

Ueki wins the penalty and steps up to take it.

She crashes the ball into the crossbar! It bounces down towards the goal line and rebounds away. Unbelievable.

The replay shows that the ball was nowhere near crossing the line. What a chance that was for Japan.

74 mins: Japan 0-2 Sweden

Sweden make two changes:

Off: Kosovare Asllani, Fridolina Rolfo

On: Madelen Janogy, Lina Hurtig

Janogy collides in the box with Ueki and the referee awards a penalty. Huge.

74 mins: Japan 0-2 Sweden

Endo finds herself through on goal but she doesn’t have the pace to keep ahead of the Sweden defence and instead tries to cut inside onto her right foot.

She can’t find a teammate and the move breaks down.

But Japan keep going. Fujino forces a fingertips save from Musovic after getting a shot away inside the penalty box.

It looked like the ball was just creeping into the bottom corner of the net. Musovic did very well.

71 mins: Japan 0-2 Sweden