The Fijiana 7s team created history in the Olympic Games last night when they beat defending champions Australia 14-12 in the quarterfinal to set up a semifinal clash with New Zealand at 2 o'clock this afternoon.
Australia was hoping to repeat their gold medal performance from Rio 2016 but lost their final match of the pool stage against the USA 14-12 before Fiji overpowered them.
It means a new women’s Olympic 7s champion will be crowned in Tokyo.
Fiji scored its two tries with less than four minutes gone in the game.
The first try for the Fijiana 7s team was through a brilliant break by Alowesi Nakoci who ran half the length of the field to touch down under the posts.
Ana Maria Naimasi who has been a try-scoring machine in this tournament broke the Australian defence again minutes after the first try to give us a 14-nil lead.
Both conversions were successful.
Australia was suffocated by the relentless defence, attack and strong work at the breakdown by the Fijiana.
Captain Rusila Nagasau led by example in the match as she made some big hits and turnovers at the breakdown.
The Fijiana played with six players for part of the first half after Vasiti Solikoviti was yellow-carded for a high tackle.
Australia scored a try in each half and their first try came through when Fiji was down to six players after a yellow card.
Faith Nathan and Charlotte Caslick crossed over for Australia.
Regardless of the result today, the Fijiana are guaranteed to play in a medal match at Tokyo Stadium.
The Fijiana have been the biggest movers in this tournament.
Their win over Canada in the group stage had a big role in the 2016 bronze medalists missing the knockout rounds.
Fiji made it through to the quarterfinals after upsetting Canada 26-12 and thrashing Brazil 41–5.
The Fijiana had finished in 8th place in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Meanwhile, New Zealand booked their place in the last four with a comfortable 36-0 defeat of the Russian Olympic Committee team.
Portia Woodman scored two of the Black Ferns Sevens’ six tries while Michaela Blyde took her tally for the tournament to six.
Jasmine Joyce scored a try in each half to help Great Britain into the medal semifinals with a 21-12 win over the USA.
France stands between Great Britain and the gold medal match after they recovered from conceding the first try against China to win their quarterfinal 24-10.
The Fijiana 7s team will face New Zealand at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the first semifinal followed by the clash between France and Great Britain at 2.30 this afternoon.
The losers from the semifinals will face-off in the bronze medal match at 8.30 tonight.
The gold medal match is at 9 tonight.
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