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Japan becomes first team to reach knockout rounds after 2-1 win
It almost seems fitting that the first team to secure passage to the knockout stages of the FIFA Women’s World Cup is the team that current holds the trophy.
Japan, courtesy of its 2-1 win against Cameroon on Friday, is guaranteed the top spot in Group C and will play one of the third place teams out of Groups A, B or F.
Despite being the first team to move out of the group stage, it’s difficult to call Japan the best team.
Japan scored both of its Friday goals early in the first half and both were because of defensive miscues that left Japanese players open for easy goals. But after those goals were scored, the tide seemed to turn. Cameroon outplayed Japan in the second half, but couldn’t find the net until Ajara Nchout scored in the 90th minute. By then, Cameroon didn’t have much time left to get the equalizer.
It was reminiscent of Japan’s first game against Switzerland where an Aya Miyama penalty kick the 29th minute gave Japan enough cushion for the win. Switzerland dominated play in the second half, but couldn’t tie the game.
But for Japan, the wins are all that matter. And winning the group means it likely won’t face much better competition than what’s its already seen in Group C play.
With Japan through, the contest for second in Group C becomes the most interesting. Both Cameroon and Switzerland are playing in their first-ever World Cup and the game between them will determine the second-place finisher. In the easiest terms, the winner finishes second. However, if the teams tie, Switzerland would move on because of goal differential. Switzerland's goal differential is eight while Cameroon's is five.
However, it is possible that Group C could be granted one of the four third place spots. It will just depend how all the other groups shake out. Right now, all of the groups that have played a second game, with the exception of Group D, has a third-place team with at least three points.
Only one African national has ever advanced past the group stage — Nigeria in 1999. And currently, Cameroon is the only African nation in place to move on to the next round. Nigeria and Ivory Coast are both last in their respective groups.
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