The Women’s World Cup quarterfinals completed on SAT 27 JUN 2015 with a healthy mixture of early and late action.

• Australia 00-01 Japan: Upon their arrival in Edmonton, the Matildas intended to apply heavy pressure when the title holders were in possession. Indeed, they were more successful at this than Japan’s previous opponents, but the Nadeshiko still had more opportunities than Australia on attack. However, there was no breakthrough until the 87th minute, on Japan’s eighth corner of the match. Azusa IWASHIMIZU’s initial shot was saved but not held by keeper Lydia WILLIAMS, and in the resulting scramble, Mana IWABUCHI pounced and put the match away.
• England 02-01 Canada: More than 54,000 in Vancouver were silenced in the 11th minute, when a defensive giveaway by Lauren SESSELMANN led to Jodie TAYLOR’s opening goal. England doubled their advantage three minutes later on a Lucy BRONZE header from a free kick. Canada captain Christine SINCLAIR pulled one back just before halftime, setting up a frantic second half in which the hosts pushed forward relentlessly. But no equaliser was coming, and so the Canadians will have to content themselves with a quarterfinal trip, their best result since a fourth place finish in 2003. For England, their first ever Women’s World Cup semifinal takes place in Edmonton on Wednesday against Japan.