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Zara Shaw scored an equaliser and converted the winning penalty as England advanced to the U17 Women’s World Cup semi-finals.
The Liverpool FC Women midfielder was a key figure overnight as her nation saw off Japan in a shootout in their last-eight clash in Santo Domingo.
Three goals in a six-minute spell during the first half had Japan 2-1 up, with strikes by Yuna Aoki and Hina Hirakawa sandwiching an Erica Parkinson response for England.
Shaw levelled the quarter-final with a low header from a corner midway through the second half, and her side would then prevail 4-1 in the shootout.
Her kick was the clinching one, too, with Shaw calmly lifting the ball down the middle after Rebekah Dowsett had saved two of Japan’s efforts.
Reds goalkeeper Eva Spencer was an unused substitute for England, who will now face Spain in the semi-finals late on Thursday night (October 31).
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This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.
