The rematch is on.
Japan edged England 2-1 in a dramatic Women's World Cup semifinal at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on Wednesday evening, as a gut-wrenching own goal in injury time by England's Laura Bassett was the difference after the two sides traded first-half penalty kicks.
With the win, the defending world champions advance to meet the US women's national team in the final in Vancouver on Sunday (7 pm ET, Fox, Telemundo in US, TSN in Canada) – the same matchup as the 2011 final, where Japan edged the Americans in a gripping penalty-kick shootout after a 2-2 draw over 120 minutes.
Japan went ahead on a contentious penalty-kick call in the 32nd minute, on a sequence very similar to the one that led to Carli Lloyd's game-winning PK in the USA's 2-0 win over Germany on Tuesday.
Japanese fullback Saori Ariyoshi went to ground right on the edge of the England box after some contact from Jade Moore, and referee Anna-Marie Keighley (New Zealand) pointed to the spot despite English appeals. Veteran Japanese midfielder Aya Miyama stepped up to the spot and beat England goalkeeeper Karen Bardsley for a 1-0 lead.
Keighley would court further controversy shortly before halftime when she pointed to the spot at the other end, whistling Japan's Yuki Ogimi for what looked like minimal contact with Steph Houghton in the Japan box. Fara Williams calmly dispatched the PK to bring England level.
The two sides traded chances throughout a compelling second half, with England clanging the woodwork on several occasions. But just as extra time loomed, Bassett stretched to block a low cross while facing her own goal, and the ball caromed off her right foot and flew past Bardsley, off the crossbar and into the net for a tragic finish to an evenly-matched affair.
