English despair as stoppage-time own goal ends World Cup adventure
Japan 2 England 1
England Women went out of the World Cup in desperately unlucky fashion as Laura Bassett’s stoppage-time own goal gave Japan a 2-1 win.
#ENG women were knocked out of the World Cup last night. Laura Bassett scored this own goal in the last minute. https://t.co/Y5mjzuLnlv
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) July 2, 2015
Japan captain Aya Miyama’s penalty opened the scoring but Fara Williams responded in kind for England before half-time.
A strong second-half performance from Mark Sampson’s side saw Toni Duggan and Claire Rafferty hit the crossbar while Ellen White and Jill Scott also went close, but in stoppage time the impressive Bassett’s interception sent the ball looping in off the bar.
Jodie Taylor's touch on and shot in the first minute bounced just wide of Ayumi Kaihori's goal with the Japanese keeper scrambling.
Aya Sameshima fired over from 25 yards at the other end and fit-again England keeper Karen Bardsley then fumbled a free-kick unconvincingly over the bar and was relieved to see an offside flag against Yuki Ogimi.
Duggan’s snap-shot for England cleared the bar and the Manchester City player then volleyed high over.
Japan took the lead in the 33rd minute when Rafferty pushed over Saori Ariyoshi and a penalty was awarded, though the foul appeared to be outside the area. Miyama sent Bardsley the wrong way from the spot.
Rafferty, trying to make amends, shot wide but England had a penalty of their own when Steph Houghton was caught by Ogimi. Williams emphatically converted, beating Kaihori’s dive.
Rumi Utsugi’s cross-cum-shot looped onto the roof of Bardsley’s net as the half ended all square.
Bardsley was out well to deny Shinobu Ohno while Bronze, the full-back seeking her third goal in successive games, headed over from an England set-piece.
White, who scored in the 2011 World Cup meeting between these sides won by England, then replaced Taylor up front for the Lionesses.
Duggan crashed a superb right-foot effort against the crossbar and Kaihori had to dive to her right to save White’s left-foot curler from 20 yards.
Scott headed inches wide from Williams’ corner but England’s spell of dominance failed to yield a goal.
Japanese substitute Mana Iwabuchi, on for Ohno, cut inside and shot wide. Bronze then succumbed to cramp and was replaced by Alex Scott, while Bardsley also received treatment on her left ankle.
Mizuho Sakaguchi headed Mayama’s cross wide while at the other end, Rafferty’s cross deceived Kaihori and clunked off the top of the crossbar.
England coach Mark Sampson sent on Karen Carney in the closing stages, with Williams surprisingly making way.
Houghton’s long free-kick was not dealt with properly by Kaihori but the loose ball would not fall to White – and there was last-gasp heartbreak for England at the other end.
Nahomi Kawasumi crossed from the right looking for Ogimi and Bassett stretched out a leg but could only send the ball past the helpless Bardsley.
Japan will go on to face the United States in Sunday’s final in Vancouver, with England playing off against Germany for third place the previous day in Edmonton.
