England Face Defending World Champion Japan Tonight
July 1, 2015 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
CHICAGO (July 1, 2015) - Jodie Taylor and England take to the field Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET at Commonwealth Stadium for their first World Cup semifinal with defending world champions Japan standing between them and the World Cup Final.
Taylor helped fire the Lionesses into the semifinals with a goal in her first start at the tournament as England ousted Canada with a 2-1 victory Saturday over the hosts in the quarterfinals at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Portland Thorns forward pounced on a defensive miscue near the half line in the 11th minute before sprinting toward the opposing box and unleashing a right-footed shot into the far corner of the net from 19 yards.
It was a dream beginning for Taylor in her first start at the World Cup. The 29-year-old now has five goals in 11 international appearances for England.
The Thorns forward nearly grabbed a second goal in the second half, only to see her curling effort kept out by a specular diving, one-handed stop from Canada and Houston Dash goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
Defender Lucy Bronze scored the eventual game-winner three minutes after Taylor handed the Lionesses the lead. Portland Thorns FC forward and Canada captain Christine Sinclair pulled the hosts within one in the 42nd minute, but despite enjoying 58 percent possession Canada was unable to come up with the equalizer.
"To get a result in that atmosphere against an incredible Canada team was an amazing result," England coach Mark Sampson told reporters after the game. "I'm really proud of women's football today, with a sell-out crowd. I have never experienced a crowd like that before. We are only the third England team to reach a semi-final, after the '66 and '90 [men's] teams. This team has shown incredible character and resilience throughout the tournament."
The match Wednesday marks the third-consecutive World Cup in which England and Japan have faced each other after squaring off in the group stage of the 2007 and 2011 tournaments. The Lionesses were the only team to beat Japan at the 2011 World Cup in Germany - a 2-0 victory - as they went on to top the group they shared with the eventual world champions.
In fact, Japan has never beaten England in three all-time meetings - with the Lionesses boasting a 1-0-2 record in those matches, according to FIFA.
A victory Wednesday would send England to the World Cup Final against the United States on Sunday, July 5 at 7 p.m. ET at BC Place Stadium, the site of their quarterfinal triumph. A loss would consign the Lionesses to the third-place match against Germany Saturday at 4 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.
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