Japan coach Norio Sasaki singled out a strong defence controlling the game as an element in his side’s 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Round of 16 clash as the reigning World and continental champions set up a last-eight meeting with Australia, who they defeated in last year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup final.
Saori Ariyoshi opened the scoring with ten minutes into Tuesday’s encounter at the BC Place Stadium played before her NTV Beleza team-mate Mizuho Sakaguchi put further distance between the holders and the tournament debutants with Japan’s second in the 78th minute.....