England reach World Cup last eight with impressive win over Japan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/05/england-japan-womens-world-cup

reach World Cup last eight
At times it was scruffy
at times sublime
performance that was dogged and dazzling at all the right moments
Ellen White's cracking early lob eased any lingering tension
rugged defending maintained the advantage
Jill Scott, part-roadblock, part-springboard in the centre of the England midfield
The effort expended was part of the gameplan
the Japan-as-Barcelona comparisons did not fully come to fruition
monopolise the ball for long spells
Those periods of pressure rarely ended in chances, though
thanks to a resolute backline and commendable tenacity from front to back
a last-eight tie against the runners-up in Group A
who swatted Les Bleus aside
Four years ago England bowed out of the competition at that stage
when Powell sprung something of surprise
an XI more radically rejigged than expected
rested as a precaution following pre-tournament knee injuries
impact substitutes against New Zealand
there's depth in the squad
a five‑goal goal-difference swing to pip England to second spot
Powell's pre-match call for her side to relax
went ahead inside two minutes
England soon settled nerves with an early goal
Carney's defence-splitting pass from deep caught Japan's central pairing off guard
seven minutes before half-time
her acrobatic overhead effort was this time tipped onto the bar by Kaihori
a vital clearance
Yukari Kinga skewed the ball over a gaping goal after Karen Bardsley had punched away a low cross
only a cataclysmic second half could have robbed England of their place in the quarter-finals
despite the Japanese pressure the scares were few
keep the lead intact
Bardsley was rarely forced into shot-stopping action
Kelly Smith was replaced just after the hour, a decision the England forward looked less than impressed with
Yankey picked up Rachel Unitt's cross from the left
before lofting a delicate angled finish over the goalkeeper
seal the victory