Hinata Miyazawa is a star in the making.
Her fifth goal of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup to close out Norway lifted Japan to a 3-1 victory at Sky Stadium, their first win on the knockout stage since they made it to the Finals in 2015.
Japan dominated Group C, defeating all three of their opponents, and scored the most goals in that stage, with 11. The 2011 champions backed it up with another statement win to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth time, where they will play either Sweden or the United States.
While this game was close for 80 minutes, it remained a close game until it wasn't when the 23-year-old found the back of the net at the 81st minute on a fast break off a feed from Aoba Fujino. While Miyazawa was close to being caught offside, she waited for the defender to get in front before firing a blast by Norwegian goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen.
The goal broke a two-way tie with Germany captain Alexandra Popp for the tournament's leading goal-scorer, and matched a record set by Homare Sawa in their championship-clinching year in 2011.
Japan was happy to be without the ball against Spain in their last group stage game, having won 4-0 over La Roja. Though the opening goal in their first knockout stage game came from a rather unexpected player.
When Miyazawa tried a centering feed from distance to Fujino, Norway's Ingred Syrstad Engen tried to block the ball, but it deflected off her leg and in the net as Mikalsen dove right to try and prevent the goal in the 15th minute.
Norway made up for the own goal five minutes later when Vilde Bøe Risa was cutting back on the byline before kicking a cross pass into the box to Guro Reiten, who made a perfectly placed head-ball to top left corner.
The Nadeshiko restored their lead five minutes after halftime when Bøe Risa gave the ball away to Risa Shimizu in the box, and she made no mistake, faking out Mikalsen to chip a shot bottom right corner.
Japan has scored their goals in bunches, and this game could have easily been a larger margin of victory. They had three great looks in the first six minutes of the match, one off a centering feed from Fujino to the center box as she was triple teamed within seconds of the opening whistle, and the other two coming within seconds of each other at the 6th minute, one from Fujino and the other from Shimizu.
Another great look came at the 41st minute, and even though Shimizu fired the shot above the crossbar, head coach Futoshi Ikeda has been very pleased with how his team has shown their energy throughout the match.
Norway didn't get a lot of chances in the second half, but Karina Sævik didn't miss by much in the 77th minute as she broke loose in the box after a setup from behind by Carolina Graham Hansen.
The Nadeshiko sealed the win on a truly INCREDIBLE jumping save from goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, stopping a golden opportunity from Sævik at the first minute of stoppage time in the second half.
Norway exits the World Cup before the quarterfinals for just the third time in nine appearances, while Japan continues their quest for their first title in 12 years at Eden Park against the winner between Sweden and the United States. That match will be at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium at 5 AM EDT, televised on FOX for American viewers and TSN for Canadian viewers.
Scoring
Japan, 15': Own goal by Ingred Syrstad Engen. 1-0 Japan
Norway, 20': Guro Reiten [2], header from center of the box to top left corner, assisted by Vilde Bøe Risa [2] with a cross. 1-1 Tie
Japan, 50': Risa Shimizu [1], right foot shot from center of the box to bottom right corner. 2-1 Japan
Japan, 81': Hinata Miyazawa [5], left foot shot from center of the box to bottom right corner, assisted by Aoba Fujino [2] with a through ball following a fast break. 3-1 Japan
Substitutions
Norway, 63': Karina Sævik replaces Emilie Haavi.
Norway, 63': Frida Maanum replaces Vilde Bøe Risa.
Japan, 72': Riko Ueki replaces Mina Tanaka.
Norway, 74': Ada Hegerberg replaces Tuva Hansen.
Norway, 88': Sara Hørte replaces Thea Bjelde.
Disciplinary
None.
Team Stats
Possession: Japan 60% advantage
Shots: Japan 16, Norway 8
On Target: Japan 4, Norway 3
Fouls: Japan 6, Norway 8
Yellow Cards: Japan 0, Norway 0
Red Cards: Japan 0, Norway 0
Offsides: Japan 2, Norway 0
Corner Kicks: Japan 6, Norway 1
Saves: Japan 2, Norway 2
Miscellaneous
Venue: Sky Stadium (Wellington Regional Stadium)
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Attendance: 33,042 (Capacity: 34,500)
Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil)
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