TNT Sports
United States v Japan - Olympic women's football quarter-final - LIVE
By
Published 03/08/2024 at 14:24 GMT+1
After powering through the group stage with a 100% record, the United States still face something of a tricky tie in the last eight as they take on Japan. The Asian side recovered from an opening day defeat to claim wins over Brazil and Nigeria, and look to continue their improvement against one of the pre-tournament favourites in Paris.
'It's all boiling over' - Ugly scenes on pitch as players clash after France beat Argentina
Video credit: TNT Sports
RODMAN SETTLES TENSE QUARTER-FINAL
Trinity Rodman secured a semi-final place for the United States with a stunning goal in extra-time at the Parc des Princes.
A tense match of few chances was settled at the end of the first period of extra-time, when Rodman took a long pass from Naomi Girma, cut inside the area and curled a shot high into the far corner.
The pattern of the match was established in the first half, in which the United States dominated possession. There was little action in either penalty area, with Mina Tanaka’s low drive that was well saved by Alyssa Naeher being the highlight.
It took until the first period of extra-time before there was an open look at goal, when Sophia Smith had her low shot at goal smothered by Ayaka Yamashita. After the goal, Yamashita saved well from Rodman to prevent the United States moving further ahead.
The Americans now advance to a semifinal in Lyon on Tuesday, where they will face either Canada or Germany.
FT USA 1-0 Japan
It's over! After a tense and exhausting match, the United States are through to the last four.
120+2' USA 1-0 Japan
Last chance gone? Chiba gets into a crossing position on the right of the area, but slices her effort out for a goal kick.
120' USA 1-0 Japan
Fox is injured here, and replaced by Kreuger. We'll have a minimum of two more minutes.
118' USA 1-0 Japan
Japan win a late corner. Hayashi bounces it in to the near post, where Ueki tries to flick it on but cn only toe poke the ball wide of the near post.
117' USA 1-0 Japan
For the umpteenth time today Girma wins a fifty-fifty in the air to keep the ball for the United States. She has been imperious today.
114' USA 1-0 Japan
Smith has put a shift in today as the central striker, and here takes a long ball into the inside right position before cutting inside and keeping possession for the Americans. Time is running out quickly here for Japan, who need to gamble everything now.
111' USA 1-0 Japan
So close to a second! There's space in the Japan back line now, and Smith spins into space in the centre circle before poking a pass through to Rodman, who is in on the right of the area. Rodman shoots low across goal and Yamashita just about turns the ball wide with an outstretched foot.
109' USA 1-0 Japan
Good tracking back from Rodman sees her run the ball out for a throw-in and nix a dangerous overlapping run from Miyazawa.
107' USA 1-0 Japan
Hiyashi asserts herself straight away, beating Horan to a loose ball in the area before being dispossessed by Girma.
105' USA 1-0 Japan
Right then, the last 15 minutes. Have Japan got anything left?
HT in ET
More changes for both sides. Chiba and Hayashi are on for Kitagawa and Hosegaw for Japan, while Nighswonger replaces Lavelle for the United States.
HT in ET USA 1-0 Japan
What a strike from Rodman, after having such a poor game. That ability to produce magic in a split second is why Hayes kept her on the pitch.
105+2' GOAL! USA 1-0 Japan
Out of nothing, the United States lead! Girma fires a diagonal ball 40 yards to Rodman on the right of the area. Rodman kills it expertly, and then cuts inside Kitagawa; her left foot shot is on target this time, Yamashita gets fingertips to it but can't stop the ball going into the top corner!
104' USA 0-0 Japan
Smith turns on the ball in midfield and feeds Rodman on the right of the area. Rodman cuts back and shoots with her left, but it's well wide of the target.
101' USA 0-0 Japan
Kitagawa lofts a dangerous cross into the area, which Naeher meets with an emphatic fist to send the ball out of harms way.
99' USA 0-0 Japan
Hasegawa drills a dangerous cross the back post, which is glanced out by Fox for a corner to Japan.
96' USA 0-0 Japan
Oh what a chance for Smith! Minami plays a tired pass out of defence now, which Smith intercepts and she's clean through on the right. Her touch is a bit heavy, which allows Yamashita to rush out and smother the low shot at goal. That's the biggest chance of the match so far.
95' USA 0-0 Japan
A Japan break falls apart, but Sonnett plays a tired pass out of defence. Miyazawa picks it off, and shoots from a wide angle into the side-netting.
92' USA 0-0 Japan
This is better from the Americans. Girma fires a long ball to the edge of the box, and Williams chests it down; Smith shoots the bouncing ball at goal, but it's deflected behind for a corner.
91' USA 0-0 Japan
Peep! On we go, and there's been a change for each side in the break. Takahashi is on for Koga for Japan; Williams has replaced Swanson for the United States.
FT USA 0-0 Japan
That's full-time. On it goes, with extra-time incoming.
90+4' USA 0-0 Japan
A flurry of action at the end. Rodman almost forces her way through the middle but is blocked off by Minami, and then Japan break and Miyazawa lofts an ambitious shot just over the bar and far post from wide out on the left!
90+3' USA 0-0 Japan
Rodman finally shows us something, skipping by two on the right. Her cross is dangerous enough but Kumagai, who has been a rock today, heads it clear.
90+1' USA 0-0 Japan
We'll have a minimum of four added minutes.
90' USA 0-0 Japan
A late free kick for the United States is the final chance of normal time. Lavelle lofts it in to the box, some head tennis follows and Rodman's volley from 15 yards out is blocked at close range.
87' USA 0-0 Japan
The crowd are getting a little restless when the United States are in possession; they're not chucking it away, but it's all very safe and sure, they can get nothing going up front this afternoon.
84' USA 0-0 Japan
Swanson spins into space in the hole, but places a poor ball to Horan which Kumagai steps in to intercept. Not long left now in Paris, can we get a winner?
80' USA 0-0 Japan
We have a quick water break, in which Miyazawa replaces Fujino for Japan. Still no changes by Emma Hayes for the Americans as yet; they are starting to look a bit leggy out there.
78' USA 0-0 Japan
Good interplay from Japan outside the box sees Fujino lift a cross into the area, which Girma clears to the edge. It breaks for Hasegawa, who hacks a wild half-volley over the bar.
78' USA 0-0 Japan
The Americans seem restricted to pops from 25 yards away right now. Lavelle is the latest to have a go, as she cuts in from the left and sends a curling effort high and wide.
76' USA 0-0 Japan
It seems increasingly likely that one goal will do this, but chances are at a premium. This has been such a tense match.
74' USA 0-0 Japan
Hamano leads another break for Japan down the left, spinning into space before crossing to the back post. It's just too high for Fujino, who can't keep the ball in play.
71' USA 0-0 Japan
It's another nice move from Japan, as Fujino reverses a pass to Hasegawa, who breaks into the American area unmarked. Hasegawa stabs a cross right through the six yard box and out; that was a great ball.
70' USA 0-0 Japan
Japan make another change, with Ueki on for Tanaka.
69' USA 0-0 Japan
A tale of two breaks here. Tanaka races forwards onto a loose ball but is quickly dispossessed by Girma. The United States then break down the right through Rodman, who overruns the ball and Minami puts the ball out for a corner.
68' USA 0-0 Japan
The United States probe and probe but there is just no way through this well drilled Japanese defence at the moment.
66' USA 0-0 Japan
Lavelle shoots from 20 yards out but it's blocked by the sliding Tanaka.
63' USA 0-0 Japan
Lavelle works a corner short to Swanson. Swanson cuts across the face of the area and shoots, but the curling effort is a couple of yards wide of the far post.
61' USA 0-0 Japan
Rodman flicks a ball over the top for Smith, who for a moment looks through on goal. Koga tracks the run though and just gets a toe on the ball before Smith can jump in and shoot.
59' USA 0-0 Japan
Smith leads a break out from the back for the Americans, and finds Rodman in room on the right. There's space ahead but Rodman dithers on the ball before losing it to Minami.
57' USA 0-0 Japan
Fujino breaks away down the right and is crudely hacked down by Sonnett. That's an obvious yellow card.
54' USA 0-0 Japan
The stalemate continues. The United States look a bit flat today, after some dazzling performances in the first round. This tournament has such a tight turnaround between matches, and it's a challenge to manage this with squads of only 18.
51' USA 0-0 Japan
What a brilliant move this is. A flipped ball around the corner sends Moriya through into the area on the right. She fires a low cross through the six yard box and Dunn gets to it at the back post, shinning the ball out for a corner. Nothing comes of it, but Japan are looking mighty dangerous with what little ball they have.
48' USA 0-0 Japan
In the first half the United States had 78% of the ball, but the two best chances fell to Japan. Early on in the second half, it's the Americans dominating possession again.
45' USA 0-0 Japan
A peep-peep of the whistle and here's the second half.
HT USA 0-0 Japan
There's a change for Japan at the half, as Hamano replaces Seike.
HT USA 0-0 Japan
A final Japan push forward is nixed when Dunn cuts out a crossfield ball, and that's the first 45 in the books.
45' USA 0-0 Japan
We'll have a minimum of one minute more.
42' USA 0-0 Japan
Ouch! Tanaka goes in late on Sonnett, and is a bit lucky not to be booked there.
40' USA 0-0 Japan
Rodman has been quiet, but finds room down the right and wins a corner of Kitigawa. The corner is worked short to Lavelle, who curls an inswinging cross straight into the hands of Yamashita.
37' USA 0-0 Japan
Another chance here for Japan, who are warming to the task here. They have two over at the back post as Seike leads a break down the left. Seike's lofted ball to them is partially cut out by Dunn; the bouncing ball sits up for Moriya, who can only slash her effort high and wide from 15 yards out.
35' USA 0-0 Japan
Ooh, a chance! Seike plays a cute pass into the area. Tanaka, with her back to goal, rolls to the left of her marker Horan and shoots at goal. It's a powerful whack but it's straight at Naeher.
33' USA 0-0 Japan
This is a very regimented performance from Japan, who are all over the Americans whenever the ball gets within 40 yards of their goal.
30' USA 0-0 Japan
Horan flicks a long ball on to Smith, who is suddenly racing into space in the right of the area. There are options in the centre but Smith goes it alone, driving a wild shot wide of the near post. That was good defending from Kumagai, who forced Smith wide of goal.
27' USA 0-0 Japan
Hasegawa booms the ball in low to the front post, but Seike can't get to it and the United States clear it.
26' USA 0-0 Japan
Good work from Seike, here, as she barrels through a challenge from Fox on the very edge of the area on the left. Fox brings her down, and it's a free kick in a dangerous position for Japan.
25' USA 0-0 Japan
A rare foray forwards from Japan breaks down, and the United States break through Smith. She bursts through into the left of the area and cuts it back; it's a dangerous ball, but none of her colleagues are in the box to take advantage.
23' USA 0-0 Japan
Japan are set up to contain the United States here, and no more. There's no high press at all, and they're only engaging when the ball comes into their own half. This game is gridlocked right now, because the United States aren't forcing the issue when in possession.
20' USA 0-0 Japan
The American fans in the crowd are trying to get their team going, as the ball meanders back and forth across their back line. We've got Snoop Dogg in the house today, resplendent in shades and a stars and stripes tracksuit.
17' USA 0-0 Japan
This is sloppy from Horan, who has a through ball on to Smith down the middle but overcooks it and it skids through to Yamashita.
16' USA 0-0 Japan
It's cagey stuff, this. Now we're in the knockout rounds there are no safety nets, hence the increase in caution. We're one sixth of the way through normal time and we've not had any real efforts of note as yet.
13' USA 0-0 Japan
The United States attack down the right again, but Fox overhits her pass to Rodman and Minami gets across to clear the ball away.
10' USA 0-0 Japan
Japan have a spell of possession, but soon give the ball away deep in their own half. Horan feeds Swanson down the right of the area, but her low cross into the middle is cut out by Kumagai.
6' USA 0-0 Japan
The United States are dominating this so far, and a long ball from Sonnet fins Horan free at the back post. Horan heads down at goal, but it's a tame effort that bounces softly into the hands of Yamashita. I think Horan may have been offside anyway.
5' USA 0-0 Japan
Smith latches on to a loose ball, and drives into the D of the area. She shoots,but it's blocked by Kumagai and goes out for a throw-in.
3' USA 0-0 Japan
Both teams have one quick break each, through Seike and Smith, but both break down due to a stray ball across the face of the area.
1' USA 0-0 Japan
Peep! Off we go!
Here we go
The teams stride out into the Parc des Princes. We'll have a quick blast of the anthems, then we'll be underway.
Elsewhere
It's quarter-final day in the women's tournament, and the matches later today are:
Spain - Colombia
Germany - Canada
France - Brazil
Conditions
It's a perfect day for football in Paris, around 25 degrees celsius and with a gentle breeze.
For the winner
Whoever takes this today will travel to Lyon to face the winner of Canada versus Germany.
Japan
The Nadeshiko Japan have brushed so close to disaster at this tournament. After a 2-1 defeat to Spain in their opening game, they were 1-0 in injury time against Brazil in Paris and looking at a potential early exit. Two sensational late goals, from Saki Kumagai and Momoko Tanikawa, plucked the game out of the ether and a 3-1 victory over Nigeria in Nantes then sent them through.
Pedigree
As with the World Cup, the United States have been the dominant force at the women’s Olympic football tournament. In seven attempts they’ve won it four times, and also bagged a silver and a bronze. Here in Paris, they look revitalised under new coach Emma Hayes, with three wins from three and nine goals scored. Their 4-1 victory over Germany in Marseille six days ago was the performance of the tournament so far.
Team Talk
There’s one change for the United States, where Korbin Albert replaces Sam Coffey in midfield.
Japan have gone more wholesale, with five changes from their match with Nigeria three days ago. They look to be re-jigged into a 3-4-3 today.
Your Teams
United States: Naeher; Fox, Girma, Sonnett, Dunn; Albert, Horan, Lavelle; Rodman, Swanson, Smith
Japan: Yamashita; Minami, Kumagai, Koga; Kitagawa, Nagano, Hasegawa, Moriya; Fujino, Tanaka, Seike
Referee: Tess Olofsson
BON APRES-MIDI!
We’re into the last eight of the Women’s Olympic football tournament, and what a humdinger we’ve got in store in the next few hours. It’s the four-time former winners the United States against Japan, silver medallists to the United States in 2012 and itching to go one better in Paris.
This should be a cracker, let’s get some team news.
- - -
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement