[Nantes (France) = Makoto Sato]The Japanese women’s football team at the Paris Olympics defeated Nigeria 3-1 in the third round of the first round and advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time in a row. Spain-Brazil won 2-0 after 18 minutes of extra time. Japan advanced to the quarterfinals as the second place in Group C.

In the first match, they lost to Spain, but they won against Brazil in a dramatic comeback with two goals in the second half extra time. Defender Shimizu Risa (28, Manchester City) was injured in the first match, and before the match against Brazil, forward Fujino Aoba (20, Nippon TV Tokyo Wildiff Bellesa) also had to adapt to a different menu due to the aggravation of an old injury. We also faced many other challenges and overcame them to advance to the next round.

In the third match, a draw or better will decide promotion, and the team made four changes to the starting lineup from the previous round. Defender Hikaru Kitagawa (27, Inak Kobe Leonesa), who was injured in the farewell match on July 13, and midfielder Honoka Hayashi (26, Everton) (not pictured), who was injured in the match against Colombia on the 19th, both started for the first time. Substitutes DF Rion Ishikawa (21 = Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Women’s Football Team) and FW Riko Ueki (25 = West Ham United) also started for the first time.

Japan took the lead right from the start. Defenders Toya Moriya (27 years old = INAC Kobe) and Kitagawa actively ran to the flanks and created chances. In the 22nd minute, the game changed. Ueki received a through ball from midfielder Hasegawa Yui (27 years old, Manchester City) and connected with midfielder Hamano Maka (20 years old, Chelsea) in front of the goal to help the team take the lead. He took the lead with a wonderful break.

Then, in the 32nd minute, Ace scored. Ueki headed Moriya’s cross to the right and the ball hit the crossbar. Forward Minami Tanaka (30 = INAC Kobe) quickly slid in and scored another point.

Although they lost the ball in the 42nd minute due to a mistake in their own half, they scored a goal from a set piece in the 5th minute of stoppage time. They got a free kick 25 meters in front of the goal, and Kitagawa shot the ball in with his left foot. The ball was sucked into the right corner of the goal.

At the start of the second half, midfielder Takako Seike (27, Brighton) replaced Tanaka. He retained his ace in the final.

About 15 minutes into the second half, midfielders Miyazawa Hinata (24, Manchester United) and Nagano Fuuka (25, Liverpool) came on to finish the game. Unlike their opponents who collapsed with leg cramps in the 32-degree heat, Nadeshiko’s players fought hard.

The second place team in Group C, Japan, will face the first place team in Group B in the quarter-finals. Group B will start at 7:00 pm (2:00 am on August 1, Japan time). The United States currently ranks first with 6 points. Australia and Germany are closely behind with 3 points.

[抚子]Second consecutive quarterfinals! Hamano, Tanaka and Kitagawa beat Nigeria/Live Details