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women's 2011 world cup

Women's 2011 World Cup


Germany

Japanese girls shake the world

Japan 2 USA 2 aet, Japan win on penalties Women's Wold Cup final (Frankfurt, Germany 17 July 2011)
Japan lifted the women's World Cup in Germany after twice coming from behind to force extra- time and penalties against the U.S.A. Wambach broke free and hit the Japanese crossbar with a thunderous shot in the 28th minute and 4 minutes after the break Japan scrambled the ball away after Morgan's effort came off the post. Kaihori tipped Wambach's header over the bar in the 64th minute and 5 minutes later the deadlock was broken when Alex Morgan got on the end of a long ball dispatching it into the corner of the net, but with 10 minutes remaining the Americans failed to clear a low cross and Miyama poked the ball home to take the match into extra time. Wambach's thumping header a minute before the break in extra time once again gave U.S.A. the lead but the tireless Japanese rallied on and with only 3 minutes of the match left Homare Sawa flicked the ball in at the near post from a corner kick. Iwasimizu was shown a straight red for a desperate challenge just outside the box in the dying seconds and the World Cup final had to be decided on penalties. With the Americans failing to convert 3 spot-kicks it was Kumagai who stepped up to send the decisive kick into the top left corner and land Japan the 2011 women's World Cup.
hope solo
Saki Kumagai beats Solo in final shootout

First Matches
26 June - France laboured to a 1-0 win over Nigeria in the opening match of the tournament with Delie scoring the 56th minute winner, but the women's World Cup got well and truly underway when Germany took to the field where they dominated Canada with goals from Garefrekes and Mbabi before Christine Sinclair reduced the deficit with a stunning free-kick 8 minutes from time as Germany conceded their first World Cup goal since 2003.
27 June - Japan were rewarded for their dominance over New Zealand as Miyama scored from a free-kick to give the Asians a 2-1 victory after Amber Hearn had cancelled out Nagasato's early lob over the keeper with a header at the far post. England were held to a 1-1 draw by Mexico for whom Ocampo found the top corner with a tremendous shot from distance after Fara Williams had given the English a deserved lead with a looping header midway through the first half.
28 June - The U.S.A. broke down North Korean resistance with 2 second-half goals from Cheney and Buehler while Jessica Landström scored the only goal for Sweden against Colombia.
29 June - Equatorial Guinea held Norway at bay until Emelie Haavi broke Equatorial hearts with a goal from close range 6 minutes from time while Rosana volleyed home for Brazil early in the second-half to make the difference against Australia.

Second Matches
30 June - France cruised to a 4-0 win over Canada with Gaetane Thiney scoring twice to hand Canada an early exit and France a passage to the next round while hosts Germany could only manage a 1-0 win over hard-working Nigeria with Simone Laudehr smashing the ball in from inside the box 9 minutes after the break.
1 July - Japan demolished Mexico 4-0 with hat-trick from Homare Sawa while England came from behind to overcome New Zealand 2-1 with second-half goals from Jill Scott and Jessica Clarke after Sarah Gregorius had put the Kiwis ahead in the first.
2 July - In a tight encounter Lisa Dahlkvist scored to give Sweden another 3 points and send North Korea home while O'Reilly, Rapinoe and Lloyd were on target with a gaol each for the U:S.A. in a one-sided match against Colombia.
3 July - A bizarre moment in which an Equatorial Guinea player held the ball in her hands for several seconds in front of goal without being noticed by the referee and 2 goals from the ever-hungry Anonman meant the superior Australians could only win by the odd goal in five while Marta inspired Brazil with 2 goals and an assist to a 3-0 win over the bedazzled Norwegians.

Third Matches
5 July - In an entertaining match hosts Germany proved too strong for France, who had keeper Sapovicz sent off for giving away a penalty, and topped the group wit a 4-2 win, while Canada capped their miserable campaign with a 1-0 loss to Nigeria. In group B Mexico lead for most of the match but were pegged back with 2 goals in stoppage time by New Zealand who picked up their first ever World Cup point while England won the group with a 2-0 win over Japan.
6 July - Brazil cruised to a 3-0 win over Equatorial Guinea with a double from Cristiane while Australia bounced back from a goal down after a defensive error to send Norway home with a brace from Kyah Simon. In group C Sweden finished ahead of the U.S.A. whom they defeated 2-1 while Colombia and North Korea continued their drought upfront with a goalless draw.

Quarter-finals – A superb shot in off the top of the post from Elise Bussaglia 2 minutes from time saved France after a Jill Scott strike had given England the lead, and with no further goals in extra-time a successful penalty shootout gave France a semi-final place, while Japan shocked hosts and reigning champions Germany with a goal in extra-time to deny them any further participation in this World Cup and next year's Olympic games. Sweden had no trouble defeating Australia 3-1 while in a highly anticipated match the U.S.A. took an early lead with an own goal, but Marta equalised for Brazil and seemed to have won the match for the South Americans until Abby Wambach rose in the 123rd minute to head America into a penalty shootout and a place in the semi-finals.

Semi finals - The United States broke down the French resistance with 2 late goals to reach the final with a 3-1 win where they will meet Japan who came from behind to dispose of Sweden by the same scoreline with Kawasumi netting a double.

Third-place match – Sweden picked up bronze with substitute Marie Hammarstöm rifling in the 2-1 winner against France after Thomis had cancelled out Schelin's earlier effort and the Swedes had been reduced to 10 players.

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