Japan's 'Nadeshiko' women's football team moved within one win of a rare World Cup and Olympic double when they set up a final with fierce rivals the United States.
Japan beat France 2-1 yesterday to advance to their second major final in as many years. The Americans, their opponents in last year's World Cup decider, dramatically edged Canada 4-3 in the last minute of extra time.
"We were always confident we would not lose," said Japanese striker Megumi Takase, adding there were jitters when France's Elise Bussaglia stepped up to take a late penalty.
"We were all praying on the bench that she would miss, and she did."
Victory on Thursday at Wembley Stadium would make Japan only the second team to hold both the world and Olympic titles, after the United States when they won the 1999 World Cup. They relinquished their Olympic crown the following year.
Goals in each half from Yuki Ogimi and Mizuho Sakaguchi appeared to have left the Japanese cruising into Thursday's final.
However France staged a desperate late fightback to run the Japanese close, with Eugenie le Sommer pulling a goal back to make it 2-1 on 76 minutes.
France then appeared poised to equalise after le Sommer was bundled over in the penalty area by Sakaguchi to earn a penalty.
But the pressure was too much for France's Elise Bussaglia, who blasted her spot-kick well wide as a golden chance to level went begging.
