The Japanese are the defending champions at the Women’s World Cup, and they took their Round of 16 match against an up-and-coming Netherlands side as an opportunity to remind everyone why. Their movement, passing and skill with the ball can hit a level that no other women’s team can match, and few men’s teams can. For their second goal, did they really combine a backheel pass and a dummy to set up a curler from the top of the box? Be still, my beating heart. This is dead sexy soccer.
Japan didn’t look like one of the best teams in the group stages, but they sure as hell do now. These are the highlights from the match, and they tell a story of complete devastation, and a scoreline that could have been much, much worse for the Dutch than 2-1.
If you watched past the second goal, however, you might have noticed the goal Japan gave up to make it a one-score game. It was, uh, not great.
Not to sound cliche, but I’m pretty sure the Japanese goalie’s controller broke. She was completely motionless when the ball struck her hand! How di…I just…wow. Thank goodness Japan still won the game, or that goal would have REALLY hurt.