Japan's women made a dream start in their quest for a first-ever Olympic soccer medal after stunning 2003 World Cup runnerup Sweden 1-0 in their Group E opener at the Athens Games on Wednesday.
Japan's women's soccer team celebrates a goal by Eriko Arakawa during the first half of their
Olympic opener against Sweden on Wednesday in Volos, Greece. Japan won 1-0.
Striker Eriko Arakawa scored what proved to be the winner when she pounced on a mistake by Sweden goalkeeper Caroline Joensson in the 25th minute to give Eiji Ueda's women their first three points ever in the Olympics.
Japan, ranked 13th in the world, started with purpose in sweltering conditions at Panthessaliko Stadium and Arakawa almost opened the scoring in the 11th minute when her close-range header was scrambled off the line by Frida Oestberg.