Japan continue perfect Olympic record with penalty shooutout win over New Zealand

Japan will now face Spain in the semifinal.

Hosts Japan displayed nerves of steel as they edged out New Zealand 4-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the men's Olympic football semifinals on Saturday. 

After a goalless 120 minutes at the Ibaraki Kashima Stadium, New Zealand full back Liberato Cacace's penalty was saved by Kosei Tani and midfielder Clayton Lewis blasted his spot-kick over the bar.

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Japan just get the job done but a semifinal is all that matters 

Captain Maya Yoshida made it four out of four from the spot as Japan booked a place in the Olympic semifinals for the first time since the London 2012 Games.

Japan are the only team to maintain a perfect record in the group stage and are now just one win away from securing a first medal in men's football since claiming bronze at the 1968 Games.

They will next face Spain, who ended their 21-year wait to reach the final four with a 5-2 win over Ivory Coast.

"We would've liked to have scored in the 90 minutes but New Zealand are a good team and really gave us a tough game," Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu told reporters.

"It's going to be a tough game in the semifinals, but we will stick together as a unit and battle it out to the death and try and reach the final."