17,435 fans were on hand at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, to watch the United States Women’s National Team defeat Japan 2-1. In the first of three friendlies with Japan, today’s match saw the long-awaited return of Portland Thorns star Sophia Wilson, and Kennedy Wesley stepped up as a last-minute replacement for Emily Sonnett. Goals from Lindsey Heaps and Rose Lavelle made the difference in the match.
USWNT starting XI – Claudia Dickey, Gisele Thompson, Kennedy Wesley, Naomi Girma, Emily Fox, Alyssa Thompson, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Heaps, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson, Rose Lavelle
Japan starting XI – Ayaka Yamashita, Hana Takahashi, Toko Koga, Moeka Minami, Hikaru Kitagawa, Momoko Tanikawa, Fuka Nagano, Yui Hasegawa, Aoba Fujino, Manaka Matsukubo, Hinata Miyazawa
Rose Lavelle put the U.S. ahead in the 9th minute of play, wasting no time building their lead against the visitors. From a set piece, Sam Coffey sent a long ball towards the far corner of the box. The ball landed near Trinity Rodman, who flicked the ball with her first touch to Rose Lavelle. Lavelle then took a chance on goal and got a lucky deflection from a defender to break the deadlock.
In the 18th minute, Japan threatened in the attacking third, pushing the U.S. on their heels. On a set piece, Hikaru Kitagawa sent a long ball from the corner area to the back post that put Claudia Dickey on notice. What initially looked like a cross ended up being a shot on target as Dickey had to leap to deflect the ball over the crossbar.
Alyssa Thompson went down the other side of the field and missed a completely open net. On the receiving end of a low cross that spanned the 18-yard box and missed defenders and the goalkeeper, Ayaka Yamashita, in mid-stride, misjudged her shot and sent the ball soaring into the stands.
The USWNT furthered its lead in the 48th minute of the second half. On a counterattack, Rose Lavelle passed the ball to team captain Lindsey Heaps at the top of the box. The Denver Summit FC signing wound up a shot and sent a low one-timed effort to the left corner.
Riko Ueki put Japan on the board in the 62nd minute to keep things interesting. The West Ham United forward beat Claudia Dickey with a header that caught the USWNT lacking. It initially looked like the play would be called off because Ueki was in an offside position, but from the referee’s angle, the U.S. had a defender who was late to get back into position, making Ueki onside and the header Japan’s first goal.
Japan came out more aggressively in the second half, but ultimately, couldn’t find a second goal. The U.S. will use each of these three friendlies to fine-tune its style and identity as World Cup Qualifiers are around the corner.
“We have to prepare ourselves for qualifying, and we don’t have a lot of windows left,” began USWNT coach Emma Hayes after the match. “We need to get some of these players playing back together again. I think it’s important.”
The USWNT will play Japan in the second of three friendlies on April 14 in Seattle, Washington.
-Jon Jones
Photos: James Lyons