Fans go wild in Tokyo sports bar as Japan tops Sweden in Women's World Cup semifinal

[AsahinaKimi]

Fans at a sports bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo, cheer after the Japanese women's soccer team tied up the score in the Women's World Cup semifinal match against Sweden on July 14. (Mainichi)

Fans at a Tokyo sports bar went wild with joy on the morning of July 14 as Japan's women's soccer team secured a berth in their first-ever Women's World Cup final with a 3-1 win over Sweden.



"Seeing them chase single-mindedly after that ball gives you courage. Momentum is with them, and now that they've gone this far I really want them to make it to the top," said the owner of sports bar Fiori in the capital's Shinjuku Ward, where ardent fans gathered in the pre-dawn hours.

The match didn't get off to a good start for Japan, as they gave up the first goal of the game in Frankfurt, Germany. When player Nahomi Kawasumi connected with a cross pass and tied the game up at the 19-minute mark of the first half however, everyone in the bar sprang to their feet and started high-fiving. Later, when Homare Sawa put Japan ahead at the 15-minute mark of the second half, the crowd's excitement reached a crescendo, with cries of "I knew Sawa could do it!" and "Thank you!"

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110714p2a00m0na015000c.html

***I will have to root for both teams! My heart is split!

[chillspike]

1. Congrats to Team Japan

on their World Cup win! :)

[Forkboy]

2. I'm still so psyched for them.

You know me, I probably would have been rooting for them anyways, but in light of all that's happened I can't think of a better ending to this tournament.