Japan to meet the USA in the final of the World Cup.

Japan have defied all the odds to reach their first ever FIFA Women's World Cup Final after beating Sweden 3-1 and will play the USA who overcame France by the same scoreline in the other semi-final.

Sweden must have fancied their chances of going all the way after going unbeaten through the competition in Germany.

But they must have feared it was not going to be their day when influential captain Caroline Seger was forced to pull out of the game with a calf injury shortly before kick-off.

The absence of Seger did not affect their start to the match and they opened the scoring after ten minutes when Josefine Oqvist fired a shot which flew past Japan keeper Ayumi Kaihori.

But Japan hit back and grabbed an equaliser just nine minutes later when Aya Miyama’s cross picked out Nahomi Kawasumi who flicked the ball home from close-range.

Homare Sawa headed Japan into the lead on the hour mark and Kawasumi stole all the headlines when she added her second of the game on 64 minutes in spectacular fashion.

Sweden keeper Hedvig Lindahl thought she had done enough when she cleared the ball away from goal, but Kawasumi had other ideas when she fired an unstoppable 35-yard shot into the back of the net.

Japan held onto to record a famous victory and book their place in the final in Frankfurt.

They will face a USA side who are also brimming with confidence following their 3-1 win over France.

The tournament favourites opened the scoring after just nine minutes when Lauren Cheney deflected the ball home at the near post.

But the United States had to work hard for their victory after France drew level on 55 minutes.

Sonia Bompastor played a curling cross into the box which eluded everyone and the ball somehow found its way past USA keeper Hope Solo.

But the United States showed their quality when they scored two goals in the final 11 minutes to book their place in the final.

Abby Wambach rose above the France defence to power home a close-range header on 79 minutes which took her level with Michelle Akers as the leading USA goalscorer in the FIFA Women’s World Cup with 12 goals.

Alex Morgan sealed the victory on 82 minutes when she finished off an impressive counter-attack and slotted the ball past France keeper Berangere Sapowicz.