Women’s World Cup Controversy: ‘Shady Late Goal’ Has People Talking

The late goal surrendered by defending champion Japan was being talked about from Vancouver to Las Vegas, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

Japan advanced to the quarterfinal stage with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands Tuesday night but Holland’s Kirsten van de Ven late score in stoppage time glanced goalkeeper’s Ayumi Kaihori's right arm.

The goalie, who allowed Japan's only other goal of the tournament against Cameroon in the group stage, put her gloves to her face in disbelief and said something to herself. Kaihori then had to stay alert as the Dutch threatened once more before the final whistle.

Teammate Yuki Ogimi seemed a bit perplexed by the goal afterward, saying through an interpreter that "it was a difficult time where she needed to determine whether she needed to hold the ball or catch it, and things like that can't happen in a match."

RJ Bell, who runs the website pregame.com called it a "shady late goal."

"The over/under for total number of goals in the game was 2.5. Meaning that this bizarre goal resulted in OVER bettors winning, and UNDER bettors losing," Bell said. "Without the goal, it would have been the opposite."

- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com