Sweden edged Japan 2-1 in the FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinals at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday, knocking the final championship-winning team out of the tournament and advancing to the semifinals.

The two sides have their own advantages. Swedish players are bigger and better at attacking the paint from the two wings. Japanese players have more exquisite skill and move the ball more smartly on the ground.

Sweden exploited well their physical advantage in the first half, not only keeping the opponents from setting up effective offense, but also continuously threatening Japan's goal directly. Stina Blackstenius simply outran Saki Kumagai in the 25th minute to get an open chance versus goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, but her shot failed to hit the target.

Blackstenius' wasted opportunity should have been a fair warning to Japan about how dangerous it could be when the box was filled with bigger and faster Swedish players. Six minutes later, Japanese defenders kept trying to clear the ball out of the box but it was always blocked by Swedish players and bounced back. In the end, Amanda Ilestedt scored the first goal for Sweden to lead 1-0 before the halftime break.

Japan took another hit only six minutes into the second half. Fuka Nagano committed a handball when Japan were defending a corner kick. Sweden were awarded a penalty which was turned into the team's second goal by Filippa Angeldal.

The 2-0 deficit finally motivated Japan to abandon their tiki-taka-like style. They began to attack in simpler and more direct way. Riko Ueki was tackled in the box in the 74th minute, winning a penalty kick. However, her shot hit the crossbar instead of flying into the goal. Though she had the chance to take the second shot, it flew too high above the goal.

Japan received the second scoring chance in the 87th minute via a free kick right in front the box. Aoba Fujino's shot hit the crossbar again. The ball bounced to the back of the head of Sweden's goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, but it didn't fly toward the goal. Instead, it took a walk along with the goal line before it was cleared out by defenders.

However, that play of Japan was not over as they lobbed the ball into the box again. Swedish defenders failed to clear it out this time, setting a good chance for Honoka Hayashi to shoot it into the goal, cutting Japan's deficit to one goal (2-1), with 13 minutes to go, including the stoppage time.

Japan failed to score again in the rest of the game. They became the final World Cup champion team eliminated from this year's tournament. Sweden will play Spain in the semifinals on August 15.

Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the other semifinal game earlier on Friday. The two had a scoreless first half. Stefanie van der Gragt committed a handball in the box in the 79th minute, leading to a penalty for Spain. Mariona Caldentey scored, giving her side the lead. Van der Gragt made up for her mistake by tying the score for the Dutch side in the first minute of the stoppage time, dragging the game into extra time.

Spain broke the Dutch goal to lead again with a counter-strike in the 111th minute. Salma Paralluelo received a long pass from her teammate in the back field and broke into the box from the left wing. She managed to dodge the defender and scored a low shot.

This is the Netherlands fourth straight loss against Spain in international competiton.