Agency :
GB Women qualified for the Olympic football knockout stages as Ellen White grabbed a third goal in two games to give them a 1-0 win over hosts Japan.
White’s goal settled an otherwise cagey game in Sapporo, with the hosts knowing defeat would severely dent their qualification hopes, while GB Women were equally satisfied to leave with a point after their opening-day win over Chile. Japan had shaded the opening hour before the introduction of Caroline Weir settled GB Women’s midfield, and from then on they never looked back.
Hege Riise’s side then had the goal to match their improvement with 16 minutes to go, as White struck again from Lucy Bronze’s cross, glancing past Ayaka Yamashita after the goalkeeper’s poor decision to leave her line.
The victory takes GB Women through to the quarter-finals and means a point against Canada in their final game would be enough to win Group E.
GB Women flew out of the blocks again in a deserted Sapporo Dome and fired a warning shot when Lauren Hemp headed wide from a cross in the opening minutes.
But they failed to build on their bright start and allowed their hosts to build their own momentum, and shortly after the half-hour could have fallen behind when Mina Tanaka and Honoka Hayashi went close in quick succession.
Beyond those chances, a game neither side felt they could lose remained cagey in large parts until the introduction of Weir shortly before the hour, from which point GB Women immediately improved.
