Japan bowed out of the women's soccer tournament at the Athens Games after a 2-1 defeat by the United States in the quarterfinals Friday.
Kristine Lilly fired the Americans in front shortly before halftime but Japan battled back and leveled from an Emi Yamamoto free-kick in the 48th minute.
But the Americans snatched victory just before the hour mark with a goal from striker Abby Wambach, reaching the last four and maintaining their record of never having lost to Japan since the teams first met in 1968.
In the semifinals, the 1996 Atlanta Games champion and 2000 Sydney Olympic silver medalists will face reigning world champion Germany.