Japan beats France in Olympics women’s soccer to make final

World Cup champion Japan will has made it into the women's Olympic soccer final after beating France 2-1 at Wembley Stadium.

Japan will be up against either Canada or the United States in the final on Thursday, the Globe and Mail reported.

It said Japan went into the match as the favorite, but World Cup semifinalist France had the better of the opening exchanges with Elodie Thomis and Marie-Laure Delie both looking dangerous down the flanks.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Japan took what seemed like a commanding 2-0 lead after goals from striker Yuki Ogimi and Mizuho Sakaguchi either side of halftime.

But France nearly came back, as substitute Eugenie le Sommer scored in the 75th minute and won a penalty when she was brought down in the area just a minute later.

France attacked strongly for the last 10 minutes of the match, with le Sommer just missing an overhead kick that was saved. Ogimi then the hit the post in the 90th after breaking from the halfway line.

Wendie Renard and Louisa Necib each came close for France in the four minutes of extra time.