Japan advanced to its first Olympic semifinal in 44 years by beating Egypt 3-0 in the quarterfinals, giving it a chance to improve on the bronze it won in 1968, the Associated Press reported.

"We are now in the position to challenge the world," Japan coach Takashi Sekizuka said. "The team is getting stronger and stronger game by game."

Japan will face the winner of the Mexico-Senegal quarterfinal played later Saturday in London.

The match at Old Trafford in front of more than 70,000 fans was another solid display from the Japanese, who haven't conceded a goal so far. They took the tournament by surprise by beating Spain in the first group stage match, and has carried that momentum all the way to semifinals.


Against an Egypt team that was reduced to 10 men before halftime, Japan started the match brightly and took an early lead.