Japan ousts Germany; France tops England

WOLFSBURG, Germany -- Japan knocked two-time defending champion Germany out of the Women's World Cup Saturday, advancing to the semifinals with a 1-0 win when substitute Karina Maruyama outran the defense and scored on an angled shot in extra time.

Japan absorbed relentless pressure during the match, gaining its first World Cup semifinal and handing Germany its first loss in the tournament in a dozen years.

Standout midfielder Homare Sawa spotted Maruyama's deep run in the 108th minute, served her perfectly and Maruyama slipped it past goalie Nadine Angerer to silence the sellout crowd of 26,067 and an expectant nation.

Germany threw everything forward in the final dozen minutes, but it didn't matter. As throughout the tension-filled match, the bounces didn't go the hosts' way.

"I am so happy. We all fought together until the end," Maruyama said. "It was not my success, but that of the whole team."

Germany's fear of elimination appeared to douse its creativity and the quarterfinal turned into a test of survival. In the end, it was the "Japanese game" that coach Norio Sasaki promised that made the difference -- one precision pass and lightness of feet outdid two hours of grinding and pushing by the hosts.

Germany had not lost a World Cup game dating to a quarterfinal defeat to the United States in 1999.

In Leverkusen, Germany, France edged England, 4-3, on penalties when England captain Faye White missed the deciding kick.

White's effort -- after Eugenie Le Sommer tied the scores for France -- hit the crossbar to send France through to a semifinal against Brazil or the United States on Wednesday. The game ended 1-1 after extra time. "It's very beautiful. Life is great. We worked so hard for this," an emotional France coach Bruno Bini said. "There's a certain magic to football."

Elise Bussaglia equalized in the 88th minute following Jill Scott's 59th-minute goal for England before 26,395 fans at Bay Arena. "Unfortunately, again, England get knocked out on penalties. How boring is that?" England coach Hope Powell said.

Camille Abily, who took the first spot kick for France, had her effort saved by Karen Bardsley. But Bussaglia, Gaetane Thiney and Sonia Bompastor all scored.