# Japan Women’s Soccer Team Secures Victory in Last 16 of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
The Japan Women’s Soccer team has secured a 3-1 victory over Norway in the last 16 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. The win was secured by forward Hinata Miyazawa, who scored her fifth goal of the tournament to seal the win for Japan.
The match was a closely contested one, with both sides having chances to take the lead. Norway had the first chance of the match, but their shot went wide of the goal. Japan then had a chance of their own, but the shot was blocked by the Norwegian defense.
The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when Miyazawa scored her fifth goal of the tournament. The goal came from a well-worked move, with the ball being played into Miyazawa’s feet and her shot finding its way into the back of the net.
Japan then doubled their lead in the 37th minute when midfielder Riko Uchida scored from close range. Norway then pulled a goal back in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Japan from securing the win.
The win means that Japan have now qualified for the quarter-finals of the tournament and will face either France or Spain in the next round. It is a remarkable achievement for a team that has only been playing international football since 2011.
The victory also marks a significant milestone for women’s football in Japan, as it is the first time that a Japanese team has reached the quarter-finals of a major international tournament. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaching staff that have been involved in the team’s success.
Japan will now be looking to continue their run in the tournament and make history by becoming the first Asian team to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA Women’s World Cup. With their impressive performance so far, they have every chance of doing so.
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