Trinity Rodman’s incredible 107th-minute strike was the difference in Paris, consigning the Japanese to a last-eight exit, just as they’d suffered at last summer’s World Cup.
Hasegawa and Fujino both started for their home nation at the Parc des Princes, with the former brought off early in the second half of extra time.
Fujino, who officially joined the Club earlier this week, was replaced in the 80th minute of a game with few clearcut chances.
Indeed, the first real sight of goal didn’t come until the 35th minute, when Japan’s Mina Tanaka fired straight at Alyssa Naeher after good work by Kiko Seike in the build-up.
The United States had dominated possession but Japan had held firm, with Mallory Swanson curling just wide of the far post following a short corner routine after the hour mark.
Our City duo combined well ten minutes later at the other end when Fujino spotted Hasegawa’s run in behind, but the midfielder’s attempted ball into one of her team-mates was cut out by a retreating USA defender.
Another chance fell to Hasegawa soon after when she pounced on a weak clearance, only to fire over the bar from 20 yards, much to her frustration.
Fujino was brought off a few minutes after that opportunity, with neither side able to find a breakthrough inside the 90.
It had been a game of few chances, but the USA were presented with a huge one early in extra time when Sophia Smith was sent through one-on-one, but the 23-year-old was forced wide by Ayaka Yamashita, who made the save.
A moment of quality was needed to separate the sides, and it came from Rodman soon after.
Picking up a searching ball on the right wing, the forward cut inside her marker and curled an unstoppable effort into the far top corner of the Japan net.
Hasegawa was replaced soon after as Japan threw the dice with Riko Ueki causing panic in the American backline when she fired towards goal from a loose ball.
But it wasn’t to be, with the USA progressing to the semi-finals where they will face either Canada or Germany on Tuesday 6 August.
