Tokyo Olympics: Japan and Brazil squeeze into the semi-finals

Japan will meet Spain after the hosts battled past New Zealand in Kashima.

There was little to split the sides over 120 minutes, Japan out-shooting their opponents 21 to eight but unable to find a breakthrough.

At the other end, captain Maya Yoshida was the inspiration. Fittingly, it was Yoshida who converted the final penalty after Liberato Cacace and Clayton Lewis had failed to score, giving Japan a 4-2 win in the shoot-out.

On the other side of the draw,  Brazil's quest to defend the gold medal they won on home soil in 2016 will continue in a semi-final against Mexico. A solitary goal from Matheus Cunha settled the quarter-final contest with Egypt in Saitama.

 

July 31, 2021