Spain and Japan have taken to the pitch at the Stade de France in the quarterfinals of the women’s football tournament at the Paris Olympics. Spain, who finished third at the previous edition, are looking to make a deeper run this time around. Japan, on the other hand, are seeking their first Olympic medal in the sport since winning bronze in 2012. The match has started with both teams showing aggression and determination from the very beginning. Spain’s Maria Guerrero has had an early chance but her shot went wide of the post. Japan’s Konomi Suzuki then had a shot saved by Spanish goalkeeper, Catalina Collado. Both teams have been creating chances in the opening minutes, but neither has managed to score yet. The first half is shaping up to be an intense and closely-fought affair. Spain are looking to use their pace and skill to break down Japan’s defense, while Japan are relying on their counter-attacking prowess to catch their opponents off guard. As we approach the 20-minute mark, both teams have been working hard to create scoring opportunities. This match is turning out to be an excellent contest between two highly-ranked sides in women’s football.