The third quarter-final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – New Zealand 2008 is underway, with the impressive Japan taking on traditional superpower England.

OFC Media will once again endeavour to bring you the latest action from Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, as it happens via ‘live’ text updates.

Please refresh your browser periodically to keep up with the latest events.

LIVE UPDATES:

0′ – the anthems have been staged and an enthusiastic crowd building beneath overcast skies on a breezy Hamilton afternoon

1′ – Japan have the kick-off with England under pressure straight away, a last-ditch saving tackle from Isobel CHRISTIANSEN the only thing saving an early deficit

1′ – England come back on the counter, with Rebecca JANE’s speculative cross landing on top of the Japanese crossbar before it is cleared

2′ – Mana IWABUCHI is one-on-one with Lauren DAVEY, but rolls her finish wide from 15 yards on the angle

7′ – play is beginning to even out, with both sides enjoying sustained possession

8′ – GOAL!

IWABUCHI collects the ball in midfield and spots 9. Chinatsu KIRA‘s diagonal run, who is clear on DAVEY and slides her finish across the English ‘keeper and off the left-hand post to give Japan the lead

10′ – Chiaki SHIMADA goes close with a long-range effort struck first-time after collecting a Japanese corner

11′ – England are fast on the counter-attack, JANE’s cross again not finding any support

12′ – CHRISTIANSEN attempts an audacious volley from 20 yards, shooting wide to the right of the Japanese goal

14′ – CHRISTIANSEN is again in the action, setting off on a mazy dribble from half-way before being snuffed out by three Japanese defenders on the edge of the D

15′ – DAVEY saves well after some impressive inter-play by the Japanese midfield results in a shot from KIRA un-marked at the top of the area

17′ – a Yuko TAKEYAMA dribble and cross finds a powerful well-timed run from KIRA at the near-post, but DAVEY leaves her line well to meet her as Gemma BONNER clears for a corner

19′ – IWAGUCHI has time to pick her spot from 10 yards on the angle, but shoots across goal, though earning a deflection for the corner

19′ – DAVEY rises well through a crowd to hold the ensuing corner

20′ – Lucy BRONZE slides well to concede a corner from another menacing IWAGUCHI through-ball

25′ – England are now enjoying shared periods of possession and a brief respite from concerted Japanese pressure

27′ – BRONZE is again superb in cover-defence, beating KIRA to an expectional Akane SAITO through-ball down the left side

28′ – KIRA leaves the field on a stretcher after BRONZE’ strong but fair challenge, and play resumes

30′ – BRONZE brings the ball from defence this time for a deflected pass to leave Danielle CARTER in a race to the ball with Japanese ‘keeper Sakiko IKEDA, who gets there first and holds

32′ – KIRA returns, sporting thick strapping on her left thigh

36′ – England are again resurgent, with Koza CHIBA blocking a snapped CARTER shot

39′ – a bending SHIMADA free-kick from 30 yards on the right-hand side streaks across the English 6-yard box, but is cleared on the second attempt

40′ – DAVEY is quick to react, leaving her area to clear a deep through-ball from the Japanese midfield

43′ – play is stopped briefly while Rachel DALY receives treatment in the English area for cramp

44′ – CARTER has space on the left-hand side for the English, but has no support and play breaks down

— 1 minute added time —

45’+1 – GOAL!

11. Lucy STANIFORTH carries the ball well from half-way, through a number of Japanese defenders, and powers her finish past IKEDA from the edge of the area

HALF TIME: JAP 1 ENG 1

46′ – the second half is underway, with skies clearing and the wind at the English team’s backs

48′ – DAVEY is sharply off her line again, taking KIRA’s shot to the body and clearing long down-field

52′ – England are really taking it to the Japanese, with the wind a major factor

55′ – Japan are starting to come back at the English, with Akane SAITO firing a dangerous cross from deep across goal

58′ – 12. Stephanie MARSH replaces 2. Rachel DALY

62′ – CARTER and Natsuki ISHIKAWA battle well for possession high on the English right-side, resulting in a throw for England

65′ – BRONZE wins her challenge on the edge of the area, but obstructs the ball and Japan are awarded a free kick

66′ – SHIMADA strikes a powerful, bending drive into the English wall

69′ – SHIMADA streaks past a limping BRONZE, but BONNER covers well to clear for England

71′ – DAVEY makes yet another outbound clearance

72′ – goalscorer 11. Lucy STANIFORTH makes way for 18. Rachel PITMAN

74′ – Japan make their first change with 20. Yoko TANAKA taking the field for 7. Chiaki SHIMADA, who heads straight for the changing sheds for treatment 

78′ – CARTER dribbles from deep and across goal, but fires a right-footed drive across IKEDA who cautiously tips the ball for a corner

80′ – 14. Kei YOSHIOKA replaces 12. Yuiko INOUE

81′ – SAITO works a throw well to create a chance from which she narrowly misses the top right corner

82′ – GOAL!

10. Mana IWABUCHI collects a deep clearance, rounds the ailing BRONZE and fires her finish past a hapless DAVEY from close-range

84′ – DAVEY keeps England in the fixture by rushing well to beat YOSHIOKA to the ball and clear

86′ – CARTER produces a timely defensive header from a Japanese corner

87′ – SAITO again creates space in the English area, but her squared cross to YOSHIOKA is awkward to finish

88′ – Natsumi KAMEOKA has a go from distance, clearing the crossbar but causing DAVEY to make a desperate attempted save

— 3 minutes added time —

90′ – Japan look to run down the clock, and secure their passage into the semi’s

90’+1 – GOAL!

CARTER lays off for 10. Isobel CHRISTIANSEN, whose audacious shot from 35 yards finds the top left corner

90’+4 – DAVEY produces a falling save from a well-placed KISHIKAWA free kick

90’+4′ – the English defence produces a succession of goal-line clearances, as supporters and officials beg for the full-time whistle

FULL TIME: JAP 2 ENG 2

92′ – YAMABUCHI receives at the top of the D, beats four English defenders, but fires her shot straight at DAVEY from the angle of the six-yard box

95′ – Japan, again with the wind at their backs, are dominating possession

98′ – DAVEY parries ISHIKAWA’s free kick from wide on the left away for a throw

102′ – both sides are visibly tiring, with frequency of turnovers increasing

104′ – the Japanese defence scrambles well to clear the ball following some determined play from CARTER

HALF TIME, EXTRA TIME: JAP 2 ENG 2

106′ – 19. Paige ELI replaces 7. Rebecca JANE

106′ – a defensive mix-up results in a Japanese corner, from which KAMEOKA’s long-range effort is saved expertly by DAVEY

110′ – SAITO has a go from distance, but clears the crossbar into the wind

112′ – 14. Kei YOSHIOKA is replaced by 19. Haruka HAMADA

113′ – SAITO has an ambitious strike from wide on the bye-line, only finding the
top of the net

120′ – DAVEY saves spectacularly from KIRA at close-range, for BONNER to clear and send the match to penalties

FULL TIME, EXTRA TIME: JAP 2 ENG 2

PENALTY KICKS:

KIRA shoots low to DAVEY’s right, giving Japan the early advantage

England captain Jordan NOBBS fires a strong shot to the right hand corner of the goal

TAKEYAMA replicates KIRA’s attempt, with a little more power

Lauren BRUTON bundles her effort into the left hand corner

MISS! DAVEY saves well at her feet to bring despair upon KAMEOKA

CARTER slots in the top right corner to give England an advantage

KISHIKAWA shoots low and left to keep Japan alive

PITMAN cooly strike the ball into the top of the net

SAITO must score to keep Japan alive…DAVEY gets an excellent low hand again, but can not deflect

BONNER steps up to put England through…and hammers a high drive into the top left

ENGLAND win 5-4 on penalties!

MATCH PHOTOS:

*all pictures courtesy of Foto-Net and Action Images

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – New Zealand 2008

Quarter Final [3]

Japan (1) 2 (Kira 8′, Iwabuchi 82′)

England (1) 2* (Staniforth 45’+1, Christiansen 90’+1)

*England win 5-4 on penalties

Waikato Stadium

Hamilton

New Zealand

Sunday 9 November 2008

Kick-off: 13H00 (NZT)

Attendance: 7247

JPN: 2. Koze CHIBA; 4. Nagisa OKUDA; 5. Natsuki KISHIKAWA [c]; 6. Natsumi KAMEOKA; 7. Chiaki SHIMADA (20. Yoko TANAKA 74′); 8. Yuko TAKEYAMA; 9. Chinatsu KIRA; 10. Mana IWABUCHI; 11. Akane SAITO; 12. Yuiko INOUE (14. Kei YOSHIOKA 80′)(19. Haruka HAMADA 112′); 16. Sakiko IKEDA [gk].

Coach: Hiroshi YOSHIDA (JPN)

Substitutes not used: 1. Saki NAKAMURA [gk]; 13. Takako SUGIYAMA; 15. Saori TAKAHASHI; 17. Minami ISHIDA; 18. Marika OSHIMA; 21. Avaka SAITOH [gk].

Suspended: 3. Minori CHIBA

Injured:

Not available:

Yellow cards:

Red cards:

ENG: 1. Lauren DAVEY [gk]; 2. Rachel DALY (14. Stephanie MARSH 58′); 3. Naomi CHADWICK; 6. Gemma BONNER; 7. Rebecca JANE (19. Paige ELI 106′); 8. Jordan NOBBS [c]; 9. Danielle CARTER; 10. Isobel CHRISTIANSEN; 11. Lucy STANIFORTH (18. Rachel PITMAN 72′); 12. Lucy BRONZE; 16. Lauren BRUTON.

Coach: Lois FIDLER (ENG)

Substitutes not used: 13. Amy CARR [gk]; 15. Jemma ROSE; 17. Sarah WILTSHIRE; 20. Kirsty LINNETT; 21. Juliana DRAYCOTT [gk].

Suspended: 5. Jodie JACOBS 

Injured: 4. Jessica HOLBROOK

Not available:

Yellow cards:

Red cards:

Referee: Quetzalli ALVARADO (MEX)

Assistant Referee 1: Lixy ENRIQUEZ (MEX)

Assistant Referee 2: Mayte CHAVEZ (MEX)

Fourth Official: Damgoua NEGUEL (CMR)