Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl is not having a good day. After 60 minutes of football in which Sweden was hanging with a superior Japan side, a couple of errors by Lindahl have lead to two Japan goals, and they now lead 3-1. Their ticket to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup final against the United States is all but punched, thanks to a couple of goals by Homare Sawa and Nahomi Kawasumi.
Women’s World Cup 2011, Sweden Vs. Japan: Homare Sawa, Nahomi Kawasumi Both Score Goals
The first goal came off of a bad punch by Lindahl. As she went up to clear a cross, she completely mis-hit her punch and the ball fell to Sawa, Japan’s leading goal scorer. With a lobbed header, Sawa put the ball into the back of the net, scoring her fourth goal of the tournament.
Kawasumi’s goal, though it was also assisted by a Lindahl error, was much more impressive. Once again, Lindahl made a poor clearance, with this one falling to the feet of Kawasumi about 35 yards from goal. She hit a tip over the top of the Swedish keeper and the ball dropped just before the crossbar, hitting the goal like before bouncing in as if it had dropped straight down instead of traveling 35 yards. Take that, geometry.
For updates on the Women’s World Cup match between Japan and Sweden, stay tuned to this StoryStream. For all of the coverage from the earlier semifinal, check out our USA vs. France StoryStream.
See More:
