FOOTBALL: Japan scores early in both halves and throttles U.S. offense for 2-1 victory and SheBelieves Cup title

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≡ SHEBELIEVES CUP ≡

The 10th edition of the round-robin SheBelieves Cup came down a rematch of the taut 2024 Olympic quarterfinal, a 1-0 extra-time win by the U.S. over Japan, this time at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.

This time, it ended differently, with Japan frustrating the U.S. attack and winning, 2-1, to claim the championship.

The top-ranked U.S. women found themselves needing to win the game outright to take the tournament title, as both sides were 2-0, but with no. 8 Japan sporting a +7 to +4 edge in goal differential. U.S. coach Emma Hayes (GBR) reverted to 10 starters from the first SheBelieves Cup game against Australia, with five of the 11 with 10 appearances or less with the national team.

The game started with Japan expanding the goal differential, as forward Yuka Momiki scored in the second minute, getting a through-ball from above the box by midfielder Yui Hasegawa, getting a first shot blocked and then turning on the rebound to score at the far side of the U.S. net.

In the three SheBelieves Cup games, Japan scored in the sixth, first and second minutes.

The U.S. got even fairly quickly, with striker Catarina Macario dribbling toward the box in the middle of the field and sending a perfect lead pass to a charging forward Ally Sentnor, who scored her second international goal with a right-footed strike into the right side of the net for the 1-1 tie.

Japan created more chances, but U.S. keeper Jane Campbell was equal to the challenges and the half ended 1-1. Macario missed a great chance in at 45 + 3, sending a right-side shot just wide of the far side of the Japanese net. Japan controlled possession at 55% and a 6-4 lead on shots.

The second half started with more Japanese pressure, and off a free kick above the box in the 50th, Hasegawa sent a strike toward goal that was pushed away by Campbell, but right to substitute defender Toko Koga at the left of the goal. She pounded a right-footed shot that whizzed into the far side of the net for a 2-1 lead.

Hayes responded with offensive-minded subs in forward Lynn Biyendolo (nee Williams) and attacking midfielder Alyssa Thompson in the 58th, but the U.S. mustered only occasional challenges. Substitute midfield attacker Jaedyn Shaw had the best chance with a blast from beyond the box in the 81st, but it was saved by Japan’s keeper, Ayaka Yamashita.

Sub defender Tierna Davidson sent a seeing-eye rocket towards the net from straight away in the 89th, but Yamashita tipped it over the net. And it ended at 2-1, with Japan finishing with just over 50% possession and a 10-9 shots advantage.

Japan became only the third team other than the U.S. to win this tournament, after France in 2017 and Great Britain in 2019; the U.S. had won five in a row and seven overall.

It was also the first defeat for the U.S. with Hayes as coach; the American women had won 15, with two ties, since she took over in May 2024, including the Olympic gold in Paris.

Colombia defeated Australia, 2-1, on a Catalina Usme score in the 73rd, to finish third.

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