The United States will play Japan once again in the Women’s World Cup Final on Sunday, but their rematch was set up by some crushing late-game drama.
The Japanese defeated England 2-1 in Wednesday’s semifinal thanks to a devastating own goal by English defender Laura Bassett in the 92nd minute that ultimately sealed her team’s fate.
It was a disappointing end to a wild game that until that point only saw goals scored on penalty kicks.
Japan scored the first goal of the game in the 33rd minute when Aya Miyama converted a penalty kick.
But England would strike with a penalty kick of its own just seven minutes later.
That’s where the score would remain until Bassett’s brutal own goal. It’s an absolutely crushing loss for England that sets up the World Cup Final rematch between Japan and Team USA. Japan beat the United States on penalty kicks in 2011.
Thumbnail photo via Erich Schlegel/USA TODAY Sports Images
