SheBelieves Cup Recap: United States 2 - 1 Japan
The USWNT book their ticket to the 2024 SheBelieves Cup Final on Tuesday!
Saturday afternoon saw history unfold as 50,644 people packed into the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, to watch interim head coach Twila Kilgore and the United States Women’s National Team face Japan in the semifinals of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup. Saturday’s attendance marked the highest attended domestic friendly and the largest of any crowd for the USWNT since the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
Kilgore rolled out a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw Alyssa Naeher start in goal behind the backline of Jenna Nighswonger, Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma, and Emily Fox. Sam Coffey and Jaedyn Shaw found themselves behind the trio of Lindsey Horan, Trinity Rodman, and Mallory Swanson. Alex Morgan rounded out the starting XI serve as the lone forward up top.
It took no time for Japan’s offense to get rolling as Kiko Seike ran onto a ball lobbed down the right flank in the opening minute. Seike easily outran the U.S. defense as she ran into the box unguarded and slotted the ball to the far post from atop the box. Naeher looked to get a hand on it but missed as the ball rolled and ricocheted off the left goal post and over the line to give Japan a 1-0 lead just one minute into the match.
A near chance for the United States in the fifth minute as Swanson’s right-footed cross curled into the box to Shaw. She leaped into the air and connected with the ball, but the header lacked accuracy as it sailed up and over the bar for a Japan goal kick.
Another near chance came for the U.S. in the 10th minute as Nighswonger rushed up the left flank and lobbed a curling cross into the box. Rodman turned on the jets to beat Miyabi Moriya to the ball, but she couldn't strike it accurately as it sailed out for a goal kick.
Mallory Swanson was inches away from finding the US the equalizer in the 15th minute. After receiving the ball from Lindsey Horan inside the box, Swanson turned and drove to her right as she slotted the ball to the far post. After skipping past a defender and goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, the ball looked primed to find the net. That was until Miyabi Moriya darted to the goal and cleared Swanson’s shot off the line to keep Japan’s lead intact.
Kilgore had to make her first substitution as Abby Dahlkemper entered the match in the 18th minute, replacing the injured Girma.
Fortune turned the United States’ way in the 21st minute when Morgan intercepted the ball and proceeded to slot the ball centrally to Shaw. She ripped a shot from atop the penalty arc outside the box and buried the ball into the bottom-left corner to level the game at one apiece.
Shaw’s goal in the 21st minute etched her name into the USWNT history book as she became the first player in USWNT history to notch five goals in her first five starts. It’s been an impressive start to her international career, as she’s notched seven goals in her first 11 caps for the United States.
Kilgore made a trio of changes in the 63rd minute as Sophia Smith, Casey Kruger, and Emily Sonnett replaced Trinity Rodman, Emily Fox, and Jaedyn Shaw.
The referee pointed to the spot and awarded the United States a crucial penalty in the 76th minute after Hina Sugita took Sophia Smith down inside the box. Horan stepped to the spot for the United States as she looked to put one past Yamashita and grant the U.S. its first lead of the evening. Despite diving in the right direction, Horan’s right-footed strike was too quick as it crashed into the net to give the United States a 2-1 lead. The go-ahead goal marked Horan’s 35th on the international stage.
Kilgore immediately made three substitutions following the goal as Crystal Dunn, Catarina Macario, and Korbin Albert replaced Mallory Swanson, Alex Morgan, and Sam Coffey. The sub marked Macario’s first appearance with the USWNT since suffering an ACL injury in spring 2022.
Japan came close to finding an equalizer of their own in the 82nd minute when Yui Hasegawa’s free-kick from the left flank fell to Mini Tanaka. Tanaka leaped and headed a dangerous ball on target, but Naeher was alert and grasped the ball.
The United States Women’s National Team’s hope to add another trophy to the collection lived on as the US booked their ticket to the 2024 SheBelieves Cup Cup Final following a 2-1 win over Japan.
On the opposite side of the bracket, 90 minutes wasn’t enough to separate Canada and Brazil, as things were tied at one apiece following full-time, which meant penalties. After five rounds, Canada was moving on to the Final following a 4-2 shootout victory.
The United States and Canada will now travel to Columbus, Ohio, where both sides will look to hoist the SheBelieves Cup on Tuesday, as both sides will square off inside Lower.com Field at 7:00 PM ET on TBS, Universo, Max, and Peacock.