World champions Japan will face holders the United States in the
women's Olympic soccer final after weathering a storming fightback from
France to win 2-1 in an action-packed match at Wembley on Monday.
Japan will be in their first Olympic final against the US, who they beat
on penalties in last year's World Cup final, after the Americans
snatched an astonishing 4-3 extra-time win over neighbours Canada at Old
Trafford, Manchester in the late game.
After a quiet opening half-hour the first semifinal came to life when
Yuko Ogimi gave Japan the lead and it continued to enthrall a crowd of
61 482 right to the nerve-jangling finale in what was an outstanding
advertisement for the women's game.
Ogimi scored when she scrambled the ball home after French keeper Sarah
Bouhaddi fumbled a long freekick from Japan skipper Aya Miyama after 32
minutes.
Japan doubled the lead with a well-directed header from Mizuho Sakaguchi in the 49th from another Miyama freekick.
France, who never stopped attacking and generally played the better
football, finally Broke through in the 76th with a brilliantly-executed
volley from substitute Eugenie Le Sommer.
Three minutes later they had the chance to equalise with a penalty but
Elise Bussaglia fired wide. Only desperate, last-gasp defending and
outstanding saves from Japan goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto kept France out.
Japan had the chance to wrap up the win in added time when Ogimi,
running through with only Bouhaddi to beat, hit the post but they held
on for a win that puts them into the Olympic final for the first time. Japan coach Norio Sasake told reporters: "It was just a small difference
that helped us win the match, perhaps we were just that bit stronger
mentally.
"But we were inspired before the match by a wonderful speech from Miyama in the dressing room that almost made me cry.
"She said she was honoured to play here with these players in this stadium, and that was very inspiring for us."
France had beaten Japan 2-0 in a friendly in Paris just before the
Olympics but Sasaki said he learnt enough from that defeat to counter
their tactics at Wembley, preventing wing back Wendie Renard from
creating anything for her side.
"The tactics worked, and we stopped her from being too dangerous, she didn't create anything," he said.
Japan's men's team will try to match the women's achievement when they play Mexico in their semifinal on Tuesday.
France coach Bruno Bini said the defeat to Japan was even tougher to
take than the defeat by Sweden in last year's World Cup semifinals but
he still managed a joke.
"I'm not very good at semifinals," he said, "I lost last year and lost
today, so if we reach the semifinals of the European Championships next
year, I will go home and give the team to someone else to look after."
France, who finished fourth in last year's World Cup, will get the
chance of an Olympic bronze in their first appearance in the tournament,
when they face Canada in the third-place playoff match at Coventry on
Thursday.
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