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<\/div>\nSweden produced a magnificent performance to book a semi-final date with Spain and leave Japan\u2019s Women\u2019s World Cup dreams in tatters.<\/p>\n
Japan were seen as title contenders after gliding through the group stage and defeating Norway in the last 16.<\/p>\n
Here, they fell behind to Amanda Ilestedt\u2019s goal before Manchester City midfielder Filippa Angeldahl doubled Sweden\u2019s lead from the penalty spot.<\/p>\n
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Japan were awarded a controversial penalty, but Riko Ueki\u2019s 76th-minute attempt hit the bar, before West Ham\u2019s Honoka Hayashi pulled a goal back in the 87th minute.<\/p>\n
That lifeline came moments after Aoba Fujino hit the woodwork from a free-kick, but Sweden saw the game out to make it into the last four.<\/p>\n
New Arsenal defender Ilestedt has emerged as one of the players of the tournament, and she now has four goals.<\/p>\n
She struck from the edge of the six-yard box in the 32nd minute after Japan failed to clear.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita kept Japan in the contest when she tipped an attempt by Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani onto the post, while Stina Blackstenius had earlier missed a glorious chance when the game was goalless.<\/p>\n
There looked to be no coming back for Japan when Angeldahl doubled the lead from the spot after the video assistant referee (VAR) spotted a handball by Japan\u2019s Liverpool midfielder Fuka Nagano.<\/p>\n
Japan have shone at this World Cup, scoring 14 times in their previous four matches.<\/p>\n
But they struggled to test Sweden keeper Zecira Musovic enough at Eden Park as Sweden moved to within one win of a first World Cup final since 2003 when they lost to Germany in the final in the United States.<\/p>\n
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