VANCOUVER — England ended host Canada's dream at the Women's World Cup 2-1 Saturday to advance to their first semifinals at the tournament where it meets defending champion Japan, 1-0 winner over Australia. Early goals from Jodie Taylor and Lucy Bronze dampened the cheers of the capacity 54,027 crowd in BC Place Stadium and kept England on track after losing its opening game of the tournament against France. England follow on from its first win in a World Cup knockout game against Norway in the last 16. “They're history makers again, only the third ever English team to get to a semifinal, we join that ‘66 and ‘90 club,” said coach Mark Sampson referring to the England men's team. Earlier, Japan outplayed a gritty Australia but needed an 87th minute goal from substitute Mana Iwabuchi to advance in their quarter-final game in Edmonton. The champion plays England in Edmonton Wednesday as former two-time winner Germany and the United States also play for a place in the final in Ottawa after beating France and China respectively Friday. England was gifted the opener after 11 minutes following a howler by defender Lauren Sesselmann who proved to be the weak link in Canada's back line. The 31-year-old Sesselmann miskicked the ball and fell over, allowing Taylor to race toward goal past the onrushing Canadian defenders to finish off. Just three minutes later the host was in disarray as Bronze headed in a Fara Williams' free kick. But captain Christine Sinclair pulled one back three minutes before the break following a blunder by Karen Bardsley in the England goal. Ashley Lawrence fired toward the near post, but Bardsley let the ball out of her grasp into the path of Sinclair, Canada's all time leading goal scorer, who made no mistake firing in her 155th international goal. Melissa Tancredi and Sophie Schmidt both missed chances for an equalizer before the final whistle ended the World Cup dream of the Olympic bronze medalists. The Japanese were dangerous early but had little to show for their efforts during the first 20 minutes in their game at the Commonwealth Stadium. Forward Shinobu Ohno threatened for the ‘Nadeshiko' but hit over the crossbar, and soon after sent just wide. Matildas goalie Lydia Williams proved solid as she pushed Japan captain Aya Miyama's shot on goal over the bar on 33 minutes. Just before the break Australia had a chance to break the deadlock only for Kyah Simon's long range effort to go straight into the hands of Ayumi Kahori in goal. Australia allowed its best chance go abegging when a Mizuho Sakaguchi error on 54 minutes let Sam Kerr through but her tame effort went straight at Kahori. Sasaki brought on Iwabuchi for Ohno after 72 minutes and she finally got the winner from close range, to condemn Australia to another defeat after losing the Asian Cup final last year by the same scoreline. Portugal-Sweden final Favourite Portugal crushed Germany 5-0 and underdog Sweden thumped neighbour Denmark 4-1 Saturday as both sides powered through to the Under-21 European Championship final in the Czech Republic. Rui Jorge's Portugal, who Portugal and Sweden, who shared a 1-1 draw in the group stage, now meet again in Prague Tuesday. — Agencies
