Japan vs France, Women's Semifinal
WEMBLEY, England (AP) ? Japan's women held on for a 2-1 win against France on Monday to reach the final of the Olympic football tournament.
Japan took what seemed like a commanding 2-0 lead after goals from striker Yuki Ogimi and Mizuho Sakaguchi either side of halftime. But France nearly came back, as substitute Eugenie le Sommer scored in the 75th minute and won a penalty when she was brought down in the area just a minute later.
However, Elise Bussaglia rolled her spot kick wide of the right post. France then kept pressing relentlessly for the last 10 minutes of the game, le Sommer coming close again with an overhead kick.
Ogimi then the hit the post in the 90th on a breakaway, while Wendie Renard and Louisa Necib each came close for France in the four minutes of injury time.
Japan will play either Canada or the United States in the final on Thursday, and can add the Olympic gold medal to the World Cup title it won last year.
Japan went into the match as favorite, but it was France ? which also reached the semifinals of the 2011 World Cup ? that enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with Elodie Thomis and Marie-Laure Delie both looking dangerous down the flanks.
Ogimi was gifted Japan's first goal after an error by French keeper Sarah Bouhaddi, who fumbled an easy catch. Ogimi got to the rebound first and bundled the ball in from close range, just past the outstretched leg of France captain Sandrine Soubeyrand.
By the time the halftime whistle blew, Japan had gone more than six hours without conceding in the tournament.
Three minutes after the restart, Japan had doubled its lead. Aya Miyami sent the ball into the box, where Sakaguchi sent a looping header into the top right corner from 10 meters out.
France needed to score quickly to stay in the match, and responded strongly. Delie broke free down the right minutes later, only to see Miho Fukumoto save her low shot with her legs. With 20 minutes remaining, Fukumoto again saved well to deny Necib from close range.
? 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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