But the scores were level eight minutes later when England had a spot-kick of their own after Steph Houghton was clipped in the box and Fara Williams did the rest from 12 yards. And they equipped themselves well against a much-fancied Japan side, although it was the side in blue who struck first – captain Aya Miyama’s scoring from the penalty spot after 32 minutes. The Lionesses had already made history by reaching the final four in the tournament for first time in their history. The pain was all too much for the former Coventry City Ladies player as she broke down in tears at the final whistle, before being consoled by her teammates. Just seven minutes later another debatable penalty award brought England level. “I want my players to go into the final not being afraid of making mistakes.”
But as her torrent of post-match tears reflected, she realised immediately how her World Cup would be remembered. But two minutes into injury time, Bassett send the ball into her own net to end her team’s dream run to their first World Cup semi-final. With England and Japan tied 1-1 in stoppage time, England defender Laura Bassett scored an extremely unfortunate own goal that ultimately denied her team a place in the biggest game in women’s football. But it all came shuddering to a heartbreaking halt when Laura Bassett’s freak own-goal deep into injury-time saw England suffer a 2-1 defeat to reigning champions Japan in the semi-final. England looked to have held on for extra time against current holders Japan before defender Bassett inadvertently turned the ball past her own goalkeeper in the second minute of stoppage time.
Japan will now face USA in the final on Sunday night, while England will go up against Germany in the third-place playoff on Saturday evening. And the Lionesses had come out roaring with Jodie Taylor having the first shot at goal after just one minute when she fired from 25 yards but sent the ball just wide of Ayumi Kaihori in the Japanese goal. We came to this tournament as huge underdogs with the weight of a nation on our back, with the sceptics and critics to say we weren’t good enough to get this far.
“She’s been courageously strong, kept this group together,” England coach Mark Sampson said of the own goal.
England’s wait for a World Cup final appearance will extend beyond half a century after their women’s side suffered the heart-break of an injury-time own goal in their semi-final game against Japan on Wednesday. The own goal was scored by one of their senior players Laura Bassett. It was very unfortunate for gmfu meaning Bassett, who attempted to intercept a low cross in the 92nd minute, but instead turned the ball towards her own net, which then went in via the underside of the crossbar. England’s Laura Bassett scored an injury-time own goal in the country’s semifinal against Japan at the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday.
Laura Bassett attempted to clear a through ball in the waning seconds of the game as it headed toward extra time, but her attempt hit the crossbar and dropped behind the goal line. While England were left devastated, Japan coach Norio Sasaki told reporters his team deserved to win because they had been willing to risk defeat by pushing forward in the dying moments. Isgruntled football fans have levelled abuse at the wrong Laura Bassett after the footballer’s freak own goal saw the England Women’s team knocked out of the World Cup. England lost 2-1 to Japan in the Women’s World Cup semifinalsWednesday night after defender Laura Bassett tried to break up a pass and wound up kicking it in her own goal.