The US Women’s National team advance to the finals of the SheBelieves Cup after a dramatic comeback over Japan 2-1 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. A 77th minute penalty conversion from team captain Lindsey Horan guaranteed the win for the US as they struggled against a competitive Japan team.
The scoring started in the first minute as Japan shocked the US with a shot from the right wing that beat Alyssa Naeher to give them the lead. The effort was from a tight angle and shocked the American goalkeeper. Even then the ball hit the post and just barely bounced into the far corner. The US controlled the game from there, pursing the equalizer and nearly getting it in the 15th minute. A series of passes, after a Japanese turnover, found foot of Mallory Swanson. Her shot beat the keeper but was booted off the line by the Japanese defense.
The US continued to pressure, forcing Japan to turn the ball over in transition. The 21st minute is where they found the equalizer as Jaedyn Shaw took a shot from outside the box that rooted the Japanese goalkeeper to her spot. Japan did their best to fight back into the game but the US pressure was too much, forcing the opposition to make changes at the halftime mark.
The chances continued for the US well into the second half but it was a penalty kick that decided the game. After a player was taken down in the box in the 76th minute, team captain Lindsey Horan stepped up to convert the chance and send the US to the finals.
Their opponents for the final will be Canada who went to penalties after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes. The game will see a rematch of the Concacaf Gold Cup semi-final where they went to penalties and the US advanced to win the competition.
The SheBelieves Cup final game will be in Atlanta this Tuesday at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
STARTING XI:
US Women’s National Team: Naeher; Fox (63′ Krueger), Davidson, Girma (18′ Dahlkemper), Nighswonger, Coffey (78′ Albert), Horan, Shaw (63′ Sonnett), Rodman (63′ Smith), Morgan (78′ Macario), Swanson (78′ Dunn)
Japan Women’s National Team: Yamashita; Shimizu, Kumaga, Minami, Moriya (45′ Sugita), Tanikawa (45′ Koga), Nagano, Seike (45′ Hamano), Hasegawa, Fujino (87′ Miyazawa), Ueki (70′ Tanaka)
SCORING SUMMARY:
1′ (Japan) Kiko Seike assisted by Momoko Tanikawa
21′ (USA) Jaedyn Shaw assisted by Sam Coffey
77′ (USA) Lindsey Horan penalty kick
DISCIPLINE:
29′ (Japan) Moeka Minami – YELLOW CARD
45′ (Japan) Riko Ueki – YELLOW CARD