Clinical Japan, Slick Spain Surge Into Women's World Cup Quarters
Japan's surprise title charge at the Women's World Cup gathered pace with a clinical 3-1 win over Norway to reach the last eight while Spain thrashed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday. The 2011 champions Japan will face either holders the United States or Sweden in the quarter-finals and on this evidence they will take some stopping. They have won all four games in Australia and New Zealand -- including a 4-0 thumping of Spain -- scoring 14 times and conceding only once.