Women's World Cup - Round of 16
NetherlandsNetherlands2JapanJapan1

Women's World Cup 2019: Lieke Martens' penalty sends Netherlands through 2-1

By Saj ChowdhuryBBC Sport

The Netherlands hit Japan with a 90th-minute sucker-punch as Lieke Martens' penalty sent them through to the last eight of the Women's World Cup.

The European champions, on the ropes for much of the final 20 minutes, looked to be heading for extra time when Vivianne Miedema's powerful shot hit the arm of Saki Kumagai at point-blank range.

There was nothing the Japan defender could do about it and the decision by Honduran referee Melissa Borjas felt harsh, but under a set of new laws introduced on 1 June - which includes penalties being awarded for handballs whether intentional or not - it was the correct decision, and the video assistant referee confirmed the award.

Martens converted as the Dutch avenged their defeat by Japan at the same stage four years ago when they made their World Cup debut. They will now play Italy in Valenciennes on Saturday.

Coach Sarina Wiegman said: "We were standing in the circle after the match and we were so happy, yelling at each other.

"We were saying, 'let's continue writing history'. For the first time we got to this stage at the World Cup. All the players then used this mantra."

She added: "We were really struggling in the second half. A lot of that had to with Japan's qualities. That shows how good a team they are."

Japan, whose squad featured 17 players at their first World Cup, may feel hard done to over the penalty, but will also regret not having converted one of several good second-half chances.

The effervescent Yui Hasegawa, whose goal had earlier brought the sides level, missed the far post by inches, Hina Sugita's drive came off the underside of the bar and substitute Yuka Momiki, who was the catalyst for her side's late surge, forced a point-blank save from Dutch skipper Sari van Veenendaal.

They will now turn their attentions to attempting to win gold when they host the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Japan thrill crowd with brilliant team goal

The Netherlands controlled the opening moments and took the lead in the 17th minute thanks to some Martens magic.

That woke up the 2011 champions, who moments after the restart were inches from equalising when Yuika Sugasawa's strike came off the post.

However, two minutes before the break Asako Takakura's side were level with one of the goals of the tournament when Hasegawa finished off a slick move with a shot fired high past Van Veenendaal.

Japan's exit means there are no Asian sides in the last eight of the Women's World Cup for the first time in the competition's history.

Their coach Asako Takakura said: "Towards the end of the match in the second half we created many opportunities and it was really unfortunate we couldn't take them.

"I think we lacked the clinical edge. We have to accept the result, we're defeated, we're very disappointed and for all the players I feel very sorry for them and frustrated."

Martens punishes Japan again - key stats

  • The Netherlands have won each of their four games at this Women's World Cup, after winning just one of their previous four in the competition (D1 L2).
  • Japan suffered only their third defeat in their nine knockout stage games at the Women's World Cup (W5 D1), after losing to the USA in the 1995 quarter-finals and the 2015 final.
  • Both sides scored with their first shot on target.
  • Martens' opener for the Netherlands, timed at 16 minutes and two seconds, was their fastest goal at a Women's World Cup.
  • Martens has scored six goals for the Netherlands against Japan, more than against any other opponent.

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Line-ups

Netherlands

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1van Veenendaal
  • 2van Lunteren
  • 3van der Gragt
  • 20Bloodworth
  • 4van DongenSubstituted forvan Esat 85'minutes
  • 14Groenen
  • 10van de DonkSubstituted forRoordat 87'minutes
  • 8Spitse
  • 7van de SandenSubstituted forBeerensteynat 68'minutes
  • 9Miedema
  • 11Martens

Substitutes

  • 5van Es
  • 6Dekker
  • 12Pelova
  • 13Jansen
  • 15Kaagman
  • 16Kop
  • 17Jansen
  • 18Kerkdijk
  • 19Roord
  • 21Beerensteyn
  • 22van der Most
  • 23Geurts

Japan

Formation 4-4-2

  • 18Yamashita
  • 22Shimizu
  • 4KumagaiBooked at 89mins
  • 5Ichise
  • 3Sameshima
  • 7NakajimaSubstituted forMomikiat 72'minutes
  • 17Miura
  • 6Sugita
  • 14Hasegawa
  • 9Sugasawa
  • 8IwabuchiSubstituted forTakaradaat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Ikeda
  • 2Utsugi
  • 10Sakaguchi
  • 11Kobayashi
  • 12Minami
  • 13Takarada
  • 15Momiki
  • 16Miyagawa
  • 19Endo
  • 20Yokoyama
  • 21Hirao
  • 23Miyake
Referee:
Melissa Borjas
Attendance:
21,076

Match Stats

Home TeamNetherlandsAway TeamJapan
Possession
Home53%
Away47%
Shots
Home12
Away12
Shots on Target
Home5
Away4
Corners
Home3
Away2
Fouls
Home8
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Netherlands 2, Japan 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Netherlands 2, Japan 1.

  3. Post update

    Stefanie van der Gragt (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Saki Kumagai (Japan).

  5. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Hina Sugita (Japan) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yuka Momiki with a cross.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Japan. Conceded by Stefanie van der Gragt.

  7. Substitution

    Substitution, Japan. Saori Takarada replaces Mana Iwabuchi.

  8. Goal!

    Goal! Netherlands 2, Japan 1. Lieke Martens (Netherlands) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

  9. Booking

    Saki Kumagai (Japan) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.

  10. Post update

    Penalty conceded by Saki Kumagai (Japan) with a hand ball in the penalty area.

  11. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Netherlands. Jill Roord replaces Daniëlle van de Donk.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Netherlands. Kika van Es replaces Merel van Dongen.

  14. Post update

    Attempt missed. Mana Iwabuchi (Japan) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Yuika Sugasawa.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dominique Bloodworth.

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Narumi Miura (Japan) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Yuka Momiki.

  17. Post update

    Attempt saved. Yuika Sugasawa (Japan) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Yuka Momiki with a cross.

  18. Post update

    Corner, Japan. Conceded by Sari van Veenendaal.

  19. Post update

    Attempt saved. Yuka Momiki (Japan) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.

  20. Post update

    Hina Sugita (Japan) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Mana Iwabuchi.

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1France33007169
2Norway32016336
3Nigeria310224-23
4South Korea300318-70

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Germany33006069
2Spain31113214
3China31111104
4South Africa300318-70

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Italy32017256
2Australia32018536
3Brazil32016336
4Jamaica3003112-110

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1England33005149
2Japan311123-14
3Argentina302134-12
4Scotland301257-21

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Netherlands33006249
2Canada32014226
3Cameroon310235-23
4New Zealand300315-40

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1USA3300180189
2Sweden32017346
3Chile310225-33
4Thailand3003120-190
View full Women's World Cup tables

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