Japan into final as France downed
Japan edged closer to their dream of a rare footballing double yesterday after holding off a late onslaught from France to reach the final of the Olympic women’s football tournament following a 2-1 victory. Japan, bidding to become only the second side...
Japan edged closer to their dream of a rare footballing double yesterday after holding off a late onslaught from France to reach the final of the Olympic women’s football tournament following a 2-1 victory.
Japan, bidding to become only the second side in history to hold the World Cup and Olympic crowns at the same time, advanced to a final showdown with the United States who was forced into extra-time before seeing off Canada after a nail-biting 4-3 victory at Old Trafford.
At Wembley, goals in each half from Yuki Ogimi and Mizuho Sakaguchi appeared to have left the Japanese cruising into Thursday’s final.
However France staged a desperate late fightback to run the Japanese close, with Eugenie le Sommer pulling a goal back to make it 2-1 on 76 minutes.
France then appeared poised to equalise after Le Sommer was bundled over in the penalty area by Sakaguchi to earn a penalty.
But the pressure was too much for France’s Elise Bussaglia, who blasted her spot-kick well wide as a golden chance to level went begging.
Japan could have extended their lead in the dying seconds when Ogimi broke free to go one-on-one with the France goalkeeper only for her fierce effort to come off the woodwork.
“France attacked us very hard in the second half but we defended well and held out and we are very happy to be in the final,” said Sakaguchi.
“It is a once in a lifetime match and I am looking forward to playing.”
Japan could be on the verge of a football double at the Olympics, with their men’s team facing Mexico in tonight’s semi-finals.
“We all hope that the men will also be able to play at Wembley in the final match,” Sakaguchi said.
Medals table
| Country | G | S | B | Tot. |
| China | 31 | 19 | 14 | 64 |
| United States | 29 | 15 | 19 | 63 |
| Great Britain | 18 | 11 | 11 | 40 |
| South Korea | 11 | 5 | 6 | 22 |
| France | 8 | 9 | 9 | 26 |
| Russia | 7 | 17 | 18 | 42 |
| Italy | 7 | 6 | 4 | 17 |
| Kazakhstan | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Germany | 5 | 10 | 7 | 22 |
| Hungary | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| North Korea | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Netherlands | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| Cuba | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Belarus | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| South Africa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Ukraine | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Japan | 2 | 12 | 14 | 28 |
| Australia | 2 | 12 | 8 | 22 |
| Denmark | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Romania | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Brazil | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Poland | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Iran | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Jamaica | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Croatia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Ethiopia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Canada | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
| Sweden | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Czech Republic | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Kenya | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Slovenia | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Domenican Rep. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Lithuania | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Grenada | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Venezuela | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mexico | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Colombia | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Spain | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Egypt | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Slovakia | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Azerbaijan | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| India | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Belgium | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Armenia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Indonesia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mongolia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Norway | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Serbia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Tunisia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Guatemala | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Malaysia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Thailand | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Taipei | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Cyprus | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Estonia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Taipei | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Greece | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Moldova | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Argentina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Hong Kong | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kuwait | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Qatar | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Singapore | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Trinidad | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Turkey | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Today’s finals
Athletics: Women’s 100m hurdles, men’s 1,500m, men’s high jump, men’s discus.
Track Cycling: Men’s keirin, women’s ominium, women’s sprint.
Diving: Men’s 3m springboard.
Equestrian: Team Dressage.
Gymnastics: Men’s parallel bars, women’s beam, men’s horizontal bar, women’s floor exercise.
Sailing: Men’s RS-X, women’s RS-X.
Synchronised Swimming: Women’s duets.
Table-Tennis: Women’s team.
Triathlon: Men’s race.
Weightlifting: Men’s 105kg. WRESTLING: Men’s 66kg, men’s 96kg.
Results
Basketball (men)
Australia vs Russia 82-80; Tunisia vs Lithuania 63-76; France vs Nigeria
79-73; Britain vs China 90-58; Spain vs Brazil 82-88.
Football (women)
Semi-finals: France vs Japan 1-2; Canada vs United States 3-4 (aet).
Volleyball (men)
Australia vs Poland 3-1; Russia vs Serbia 3-0; Italy vs Bulgaria 0-3; Great Britain vs Argentina 0-3; US vs Tunisia 3-0.
Waterpolo (men)
Kazakhstan vs Croatia 4-12; Greece vs Australia 8-13; Romania vs Serbia
4-12; Hungary vs US 11-6; Great Britain vs Montenegro 4-13; Spain vs Italy 7-10.