USWNT vs. Japan: Match Recap and Highlights | 2024 SheBelieves Cup Semifinals

ATLANTA (April 9, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s National Team scores a thrilling 2-1 victory over Japan in the opening game of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup presented by Visa in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 50,644 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Ta. The crowd set a record for the largest attendance ever for a USWNT friendly at home, and the largest attendance for a USWNT game since the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final. Goals from forward Jadyn Shaw and midfielder Lindsey Horan gave the team a come-from-behind victory in the new home of U.S. soccer.

Japan shocked the Americans from the kickoff, taking the lead just 31 seconds into the game with a goal from Kiko Seike, who got on the edge of a long ball on the right side, dribbled into the penalty area and fired a shot. This one bounced. It went off the left post and into the back of the net. The U.S. didn’t panic even with the early goal, outscoring Japan 18-6 while creating the majority of dangerous chances.

The Americans put pressure on the Japanese defense throughout the game, with good coordination throughout the front and back line and midfield of Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman, and Mallory Swanson, who was playing for the USWNT for the first time in 364 days. posed a danger.America came close to tying the score in 15 games.^th Immediately after the start, Swanson cut through the box from right to left with a brilliant dribble and fired a low shot that found the back of the net, but a heroic goal-line clearance from defender Masa Moriya kept the visitors in the lead.

The USA then scored the tying goal in the 36th inning.^th On that minute, midfielder Sam Coffey took the ball from his team’s press at the top of Japan’s defensive third. Coffey split two defenders with a pass and found Shaw at the top of the box, who fired a powerful shot into the bottom left corner from 20 yards out, freezing Japanese goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita and leveling the score. I caught up.

As the energetic crowd spurred the Americans to become even more dominant throughout the second half, the team continued to threaten with their attacks while effectively limiting the Japanese attack. After several knocks on the door, America took first place in the 77th tournament.^th The moment Horan sank a penalty kick after being fouled by Sophia Smith in the box.Smith came off the bench in 63 games.^rd He started the American attack in the first minute and contributed to several scoring opportunities before ripping through two defenders in the penalty area near the right corner to earn a spot kick. The conversion has given Horan three goals in his last four games, each of which have been game-winners, including the goal that clinched the team’s title in the inaugural Concacaf World Gold Cup final. include.

The Americans lost central defender Naomi Girma to a right thigh injury just 18 minutes into the game, and was replaced by Abby Dahlkemper, who was replaced by Tierna Davidson, who also had an excellent performance this afternoon. He played a great game next door.

With this victory, the United States will face the winner of Brazil vs. Canada in the tournament finals, seeking to win the SheBelieves Cup for the fifth consecutive year and seventh time overall. The U.S. National Team will play Tuesday, April 9th ​​at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio (7 p.m. ET, TBS, Universo, Maxx, Peacock). The third-place match will be played prior to the final at 4 p.m. ET.

Goal score summary:

America – Kiko Seike (Momoko Tanikawa), 1^cent Minutes: Momoko Tanigawa sent a long ball to Seie from the right side. She dribbled into the box with good tempo and fired a low shot from about 10 yards out, which hit her left post and bounced into the back of the goal. This was one of the fastest goals the USWNT had ever allowed. America 0, Japan 1

USA – Jadyn Shaw (Sam Coffey), 21 years old^cent Minutes: Coffey picked out the defender’s pocket in his team’s press and Shaw made a pass at the top of the box, separating the two defenders. Shaw then turned him around and fired a powerful shot low into the left corner from 20 yards out to equalize. America 1, Japan 1

USA – Lindsey Horan (penalty kick), 77 years old^th Minutes: The USA earned a penalty kick after Sophia Smith was fouled in the box. Horan stepped up to the occasion and took the lead with a low, solid shot that beat the goalkeeper. America 2, Japan 1

Other notes:

• Jadyn Shaw’s goal marked his fifth game as a starter and seventh of his career, extending his team-leading five goals in 2024.
• This goal took Shaw to seven goals in his first 11 caps. Christen Press is the only player in USWNT history to score more goals through 11 games (8 goals).
• Lindsay Horan scores 35 points^th This is an international goal, and will become the fourth goal in 2024.
• Katarina Macario played in her first USWNT game in 725 days and last took the field for the USWNT on April 12, 2022, scoring two goals in the USA’s game against Uzbekistan in Chester, Pennsylvania. This was her 18th cap.
• This was Mallory Swanson’s 20th SheBelieves Cup match, tying her with Becky Sauerbrunn for the most appearances in SheBelieves Cup history.
• Despite appearing in only six games in 2023, Swanson led the USWNT in scoring last year with seven goals, four of which came in the SheBelieves Cup, and she was named the Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP. It was. She became the first player in tournament history to score in every SheBelieves Cup game.
• Swanson, who scored four goals in the 2023 tournament, passed Megan Rapinoe as the all-time leading scorer in SheBelieves Cup history with eight goals in 19 games.
• Overall, the U.S. leads the series against Japan with 31 wins, 1 win, 8 draws, and 8 losses, with their only loss in the series coming in the 2012 Algarve Cup. Since then, the Americans have remained undefeated in the last 13 meetings between the teams, with nine wins and four ties during that span, including a 2-1 win in the 2012 Olympic finals and a 2-1 win in the 2015 FIFA That includes a 5-2 win at the Women’s World Cup. Last.
• This was USWNT’s 10^th It will be the first game in Georgia since September 18, 2016, when the USA defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in a friendly at the Atlanta Dome. The United States has now won all games in the Peach State by a combined score of 37-5.