Nadeshiko Japan reached their second consecutive World Cup final on Wednesday evening in dramatic style with a last-gasp own goal from England defender Laura Bassett handing the Asian champions a 2-1 victory.

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It was an agonising result for England who had been the better of the two sides for long periods of the game only to see Bassett’s interception attempt fly past her own ‘keeper via the crossbar.

The game had been delicately poised at 1-1 since late in the first-half in Edmonton, with Aya Miyama and Fara Williams converting for their respective sides from dubious penalty awards.

Experienced captain Miyama had given Japan the lead after 32 minutes despite Claire Rafferty’s foul seemingly occurring outside of the penalty area.

However, England would level proceedings just eight minutes later when Steph Houghton’s fall in the area brought about another contentious penalty award. Williams made no mistake for the Lionesses.

England enjoyed a number of fine chances in the second period as they pushed for a victory with Toni Duggan and Jill Scott both guilty of missing major chances as Mark Sampson’s side threatened to move ahead.

Japan, though, kept England on their toes with goalkeeper Karen Bardsley forced to react quickly to smother from the unmarked Yuki Ogimi while Mana Iwabuchi crashed a shot into the side netting.

With the game seemingly headed for extra-time, fate struck in the most cruel of fashions for Bassett and England. With Japan threatening to strike on the counter, the Notts County defender slid to intercept an attempted through-ball only to see the ball fly into the back of the net via the crossbar.

England’s players were left distraught by the incident, having come so close to earning their country a first football World Cup final since 1966. It was not to be, though, and the Nadeshiko will instead have the opportunity to defend their World Cup crown against USA this coming weekend.