KEY POINTS:
The heavyweights of women's soccer are ready to battle it out for the medals at Fifa's inaugural Under-17 Women's World Cup.
As the much-vaunted three-pronged Asian challenge all but stumbled out of contention at the quarter-final stage, Germany and the United States won through to Thursday's key semifinal in Christchurch.
The winner of that late game will face the victor of the earlier semifinal - also at QEII Park - between England and Korea DPR in Sunday's final at North Harbour Stadium.
The English, into medal contention for the first time in a Fifa women's tournament, face a tough task after using all their get-out-of-jail-free cards in front of another encouraging crowd of 7247 at Waikato Stadium yesterday.
Pitted against the highly fancied Japanese - the only team to win their three group matches - England were always playing catch-up. In the end, they caught up and won through in a tense penalty shootout.
There was drama aplenty before that. Trailing by a goal when Chinatsu Kira scored her fifth goal of the tournament after eight minutes, the English got back to 1-1 in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Lucy Staniforth scored her first.
The pattern was repeated in the second spell when Mana Iwabuchi scored Japan's go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute. Again, with the clock into stoppage time, Isobel Christiansen also chose the right time to score her first to lock it 1-1 and force extra time.
No change there despite the continued Japanese domination - 33 shots (12 on target) to 17 (6), 10 corners to one and 60 per cent possession - taking it to the first shootout.
Again, England had to play catch-up but when Natoumi Kameoka's third attempt for Japan was saved by England goalkeeper Lauren Davey, Europe became the only confederation with two nations in the last four when Gemma Bonner made it five from five for a 5-4 shootout triumph.
In the late game there was not the same drama as the Americans, while still not at their very best, were always in control in seeing off Korea Republic 4-2 after leading 4-1 with five minutes to play.
Courtney Verloo took her tournament tally to three with goals in the 27th and 78th minutes. Hyun Young Lee, with her goals after 65 and 85 minutes, did the same but it was a game the South Koreans were never going to win. With 20 shots to five and six corners to three, the US always held the upper hand.
Saturday's quarter-finals at Westpac Stadium were more predictable.
Germany cruised home 3-1 over Canada, forcing 10 corners to none along the way.
After Dzsenifder Marozsan had given Germany their early lead, Lynn Mester added a second in the 35th minute. Marozsan scored a second 12 minutes from time. Nkem Ezurike got one back for the Canadians just before halftime.
In the earlier match, Asian champions North Korea, led by two goals from Hwa Myong Jon, ran out 4-0 winners over Denmark.
