Japan beat England 2-1 after Laura Bassett's own goal in injury time

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:16 am

Japan beat England 2-1 in their semifinal match at the 2015 Women's World Cup as England's Laura Bassett inadvertently redirected the ball into her own goal in injury time to cost her team a chance at extra time and penalties.

Japan advance to the final to face the United States on Sunday, July 5.

The match seemed headed for extra time as 90 minutes of regulation and injury time ticked toward conclusion. However, a ball into the box fell to Bassett's feet and her attempted clearance went over England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley's head, bounced off the crossbar and into the goal.

Barring a nifty turn and volley by Jodie Taylor in the game's opening seconds, neither team generated much offense early in the first half until a pair of penalties less than 10 minutes apart got both teams on the scoreboard.

Aya Miyama put the reigning World Champions on the board from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute after Claire Rafferty shoved Saori Ariyoshi in the back on the edge of the area. The referee pointed directly to the spot and Rafferty was given a yellow card.

Laura Bassett of England is comforted by teammates after her own goal in injury time.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

England continued to put pressure on the Japanese defence and in the 39th minute Stephanie Houghton was fouled in the box by Yuki Ogimi. England's Fara Williams calmly slotted the penalty opportunity into the lower left corner to send the game into the dressing room even at 1-1.

After a fairly uneventful opening 15 minutes to the second half, England's Ellen White came on for Jodie Taylor. Just minutes later, Toni Duggan collected a loose ball on the edge of the Japan penalty area and narrowly missed on a smashing volley that hit the crossbar.

Duggan almost made her mark in the 64th minute, but her curling shot at the Japan goal was deflected away by Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori.

England continued to apply pressure and in the 65th minute, Jill Scott headed a corner kick just inches wide of Japan's left post.

Mana Iwabuchi came on for Japan in the 70th minute and immediately had two quality shot attempts just miss the England goal. Mizuho Sakaguchi got on the back end of a Miyama cross in the 76th minute, but her headed attempt was off target.

Japan will face the United States in the final on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. England will meet Germany, who were beaten 2-0 by the U.S. in the other semifinal, on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.