DE Online Desk:
The US Women’s National Team’s 18-match unbeaten run under coach Emma Hayes came to an end on Thursday with a 2-1 defeat to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup.
The US was looking to win a sixth-straight SheBelieves Cup title at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, but goals from Yuka Momiki and Toko Koga at the start of each half saw Japan lift the trophy for the first time.
It was also a first victory over the US for the Nadeshiko in 14 matches, according to the Associated Press – a winless run stretching back to 2012.
The match got off to the perfect start for Japan when Momiki got behind the US defense and scored after just 93 seconds, stunning the 17,000-strong home crowd.
The US responded about 10 minutes later as Ally Sentnor, who had scored a wonderful goal against Colombia earlier in the competition, gathered the ball on the edge of Japan’s box and equalized with a composed finish.
Both teams had shooting opportunities later in the first half, but it wasn’t until five minutes after half-time that the game saw its next goal. After Jane Campbell had saved Yui Hasegawa’s well-struck free-kick, Koga pounced on the rebound to put Japan 2-1 ahead with plenty of the match still to play.
The inexperienced US side, however, couldn’t find a way back into the contest, falling to a rare defeat under Hayes despite late chances for Jaedyn Shaw and Tierna Davidson. — CNN