Japan 2-1 Canada
Japan – Kawasumi (33′), Miyama (44′) / Canada – Tancredi (55′).

Japan played at their own pace for most of the game and should have wrapped it up long before Ogimi had a shot cleared off the line at 2-0, and then Tancredi popped one in at the other end to make it interesting. In the end, Japan controlled the game, took their time when needed, made the interceptions when called for and looked composed and ready to move on in their quest to add an Olympic medal to their World Cup win …

Kawasumi’s goal was a brilliant piece of interplay betweem the INAC Kobe trio of Sawa – initial pass – Ohno – holding the ball before Kawasumi ran into space – and the scorer herself, who picked up Ohno’s back heel, advanced to the near post and blasted high into the net from the angle. (Picture shows those three at “home” in Kobe, below).

Miyama’s goal was a case of size doesn’t matter as she got her head to the ball to make it 2-0, despite the attnetions of the much taller keeper AND two defenders. Bring on South Africa and Sweden!

Japan : GK – Fukumoto DF – Sameshima, Iwashimizu, Kumagai, Kinga MF – Sakaguchi, Sawa, Kawasumi, Miyama (capt.) FW – Ogimi, Ohno (Ando 64′)
Canada : GK – McLeod DF – Moscato, Chapman, Sesselman (Stewart 69′), Wilkinson (Gayle 70′) MF – Kyle (Parker 75′), Matheson, Scott, Schmidt FW – Sinclair (capt.), Tancredi