SPORTS
Women`s World Cup: United States to play Japan in final
Baku, July 14 (AZERTAC). The United States will play Japan in the Fifa Women`s World Cup final on Sunday 17 July.
USA scored twice in the last 11 minutes to overcome France 3-1 in the first semi-final.
The favourites, bidding for an unprecedented third World Cup title after their wins in 1991 and 1999, were pushed all the way by Les Bleus.
Japan beat Sweden 3-1 thanks to a double from Nahomi Kawasumi, including a spectacular 35-metre lob.
Josefine Oqvist gave Sweden the lead after pouncing on Sawa`s poor back-pass before Kawasumi equalised nine minutes later.
Sawa added the second with a close-range header before Kawasumi completed the comeback with a brilliant lob.
Earlier in the day, Lauren Cheney tapped the US into a half-time lead, but Sonia Bompastor curled France deservedly level.
However, Abby Wambach`s header and Alex Morgan`s lob sealed the US victory.
France coach Bruno Bini, meanwhile, was left to lamented his side`s missed chances, saying: "We had a lot of chances and played a very good game except the first 10 minutes.
"We were as good as we could have been. It was very physical and we stood up to this. But they have a lot of experience. They know how to play at this level and that told today. I thought we could get back to 2-2 but at 3-1 it`s over."