USWNT 1-2 Japan
A big time matchup. We saw the Colombia game, the US did not look great, this game, facing a team not 20 spots below them in the standings but #8 may have had a different result. Here in Japan a stronger team, getting earlier goals may be a problem. Interesting for me will be how many times they get the newly married players, using their husbands surnames, wrong, many times facing Colombia, Heaps was called as Horan, even pre game today. Great to see strong NY ties in the starters for the US, Dunn & Coffey natives to Ryan, Sonnett and beyond.
Japan takes it back to the GK on the opening kick, she then boots it over midfield and out of play, why? Dunn on the throw, had not been in for Gotham much toward the end of last season. Campbell lets the attacking player get too close for my taste before playing it out. An errant pass at about 25 yards lost by US, 90 seconds in Campbell off her line the player turns and sends it home. Into the area at the corner of the box, Sonnett and Campbell are down, she goes the other way and it is 1-0. Japan are playing the ball fast and accurately. Yohannes breaks one up, Japan recovers it and then go off in the area. Pressure and then cutting off the passing lane and again Japan gets it in their offensive third. Trying to get forward the US loses one just over the half. All the way to the GK and the US press back long to the GK Setnor over runs her mark. Japan find the net at a rate of 8-1 over the first two games, the US have not been near this production. Heaps on the wing and passed off, cut back at the end line for Macario, not connecting. Yes Horan is being misidentified again. 30 yards back to Sonnett outside for Dunn back to Heaps now Setnor and to the other side as it goes to Campbell. Macario gets it near midfield, she drops it then played forward, the pass is not controlled and it gets to the Japan GK. Loose marking by the US shows a few open and yes, they get the ball. Playing in tight places, no problem for the Japanese. Fox with a deep throw, blue shirts are covered as shown on the camera behind her, Macario with 2 is the target and Japan steals it away. Through ball cut off by Crystal. Dunn again well positioned sends the stolen pass forward. US foul by Sonnett. Ryan gets the ball to Setnor into the area then back to Coffey now the ball played in to Heaps headed at the GK from Dunn. Setnor strikes again at 13’ Macario turns on her mark and Setnor, her 2nd touch goes side netting far post into the corner. The fans I am sure would love to see a goal every 7 minutes. US takes a pass at half field but keep playing it back now Dunn has a pass stuffed winning a throw. Fox finds Heaps getting forward, it is defended out of touch for a deep throw. Heaps squares up to defenders then goes back to Fox. Way back into the US defense, Heaps leads Macario played out for a US corner by Macario. She sends it just into the 6 goes out Fox reels it in back to Cat. Fox hits one long right to the GK. A long ball on the ground Coffey then Heaps now Ryan the return ball to her is too much and a Japan throw. Pressure on the US and another pass to not a soul. Goal kick played short then across and pressed by Heaps they get it out again Dunn sends it in back to her and she goes back to McKewon. Japan holds a few passes back and across through the GK, again across the back, a long ball is nodded on getting to the US GK. Campbell keeps it at her feet then as it gets forward lost in the US defensive third straight up in the area and Sonnett seems to have taken a blow to her midsection and is in some pain. High press by Japan and the US lose it. Setnor evades a pair gives to Dunn now back to Campbell. A long ball from McKewon for Setnor goes out of play. The US do not defend well in pressing leaving players open, they recover and lose it as Fox is pressed. Now in on goal and Japan looking dangerous, end line then looking far post in the 6 well wide. Plays not tracking leave them open to beat the press as Ryan called for a foul. Wide open on the right wing and played out by Japan. McKewon gives a corner. Taken to the short player on the wing and then inside yet far to be played in it gets to Campbell. Yohannes does not get back to the ball goes to ground gets it to Ryan under pressure and the US called for a handball. Sonnett just goes straight to the GK, Yohannes forward played outside and lost. Japan keep finding the open player and get forward outside is open and shoots but at Campbell, they cannot be this open. A poor ball forward taken near midfield. And Japan gets forward Ryan steals it and leads for Macario now to Heaps who is on the wing looking for an outlet, back to Ryan now well below the center circle. Dunn has her pass not connect and almost to the end line it goes, goal kick. Fox gets to it but Japan takes it now their GK and Heaps pressures, Yohannes steals, Setnor for Dunn, it is taken away. A player breaks free but the ball is just too far for her as she slide for it in the area, Japan will get another if this keeps up. Here they come again with numbers a shot from beyond the area into McKewon in the midsection and she just crumples to the ground. She is up to applause. Lozano is at the game we covered one of his recent games in MLS. Dunn beats her mark on the wing goes to Macario who does not come back for the ball and it is lost. Japan near the area now in and McKewon stops it gets forward and lost a distant shot is distant from the goal by Japan. Campbell with another grab in the area. Yohannes lets the defender get to close now she gets a ball despite having one cloaked on her. Heaps beats the mark and Yohannes covered loses it. Again on the wing a player is open, into the area bounds about Setnor gets it for Heaps then Cat and back, Heaps gets mugged. An unforced error with a ball straight to the touchline gives Japan a throw into the area and Campbell has it. An unusually busy night for her thus far. Dunn over the top for Heaps knocked away and Ryan gets it just out of the area, has a go with Macario open to her right and it is right at the GK. Dunn shielding the ball is pulled down from behind. A long ball to a covered Macario, why? off the head to Japan. Campbell to McKewon now outside and up to Dunn who looks to go forward then drops it. Coffey looks for Macario and it is lost getting to the Japan backstop. Ryan, Yohannes and Heaps, who looks for Ryan but it was not on. US holds and lose it trying to pass through a pair of opponents. Again on the right wing a player is free to run. Ryan picks up a loose one, a great look for the US and Macario just missing Ryan but a great looking run. Not sure if it was a shot or a pass but it was dangerous, great way to have closed out the half had it gone in. A runner gets the ball played to her but off a bit and Campbell again pressed into service.
The #8 is giving the US all they can handle what to do? USA tighten up in defense, finds space and lose your marks, Japan is absolutely stifling them. The off ball movement by Japan is finding them open again and again. The US has to pass out of pressure and find open players, not pass into those covered. Japan get shots off and keep at it.
Nighswonger for Dunn and Jay for Setnor to start the 2nd half, we have spoken with both of the subs of late. If the score line remains the same, Japan takes the title. McKewon wins the ball then surrounded by a trio luckily the ball is off Japan. An open player in the area for Japan takes touches rather than shoot, loses the opportunity to get one up on the US. Jenna gets a ball under pressure her pass deflected out for a deep US throw. Heaps makes a run at the GK the only outlet visible to her right others covered, she goes straight, I am sure no feedback from her players. DFK Japan just beyond the arc from the Ryan foul, if going to foul, do so sooner. Very dangerous positioning for this DFK no doubt a shot is coming, a 5 person wall in place the shot is high and Campbell knocks it down but the onrushing Japan team take the lead again less than 5’ into a half. Parry that over the bar, beyond the post if not hold it. Ryan into the area but a bit too much on a dribble and the GK grabs it up, she had players in the 6. Shaw pressed and the ball played back then taken by her to Heaps who is dropped and DFK as each team has a player down. Just beyond the area off a corner, surely within shooting distance as Macario is over it her team setting up for a 2nd ball. The near post was open, the far post ball was too fast. Yohannes cannot keep the string of passes going and it goes back to the Japan GK. The US is not pressing in their offensive half trailing by 2 to win. Jenna leaves a player to get the ball, she then takes it away, but that pass should not be completed. Alyssa Thompson is awaiting entry. Heaps had Ryan but no lane and Japan get a throw. Fox under pressure has to play it out for a throw very deep in the US end. Lynn in for the US as is Albert. Ryan, Macario and Yohannes are out. Shaw loses it then Japan goes way back into their defensive end, now just above their area, back and forth. Taken by the US and they get forward now Jenna goes back, it is lost. Japan gets forward and Shaw takes it Jenna and Coffey pass, Jenna then to Shaw who is fouled. Japan in the area but it drifts to Campbell who feeds Thompson and her speed gets a rise out of the crowd, Jenna for Heaps and the header is wide, finally a good play put together. Now, the US press in the other half of the field a little too late? The US go across their backline and lose it. So many things are just not going their way as time continues to tick away for the host nation. Near the box now the center circle Jenna on the wing to Shaw and way back, back to Jenna. It goes in a bit then back out again. Japan is hounding the ball, Coffey cleans up a pass goes for Heaps but she is off. Davidson coming on for McKewon. US gets a ball then a pass is lost. Again across the back line now Jenna gets forward then gives up 30 yards, now at the bottom of the circle and again. Looking for a header in the area and out the US keep it Fox, leads her to the end line but it is shielded away by the defender and the GK is down. A long shot easily handled by Campbell she outlets to Davidson. Taken at the top of their area by the US and they do not have a run up field. Heaps with hands all over her back and loses the ball. Japan is finding players open to help kill the game off again finding open players. Davidson to Jenna she plays a quick ball in then it is lost. Japan loses the ball for a goal kick. The US seem disconnected somehow, balls into spaces to the other team, lost under no pressure. Japan into the area and then out again now to the center circle again near the area and in looking for space but Albert takes it and lost into the 6 and Campbell has it, no outlet? Multiple passes across the back by the US needing a pair of goals in 10’, not the way to get them. Thompson reels in an errant pass then dribbles right into a player with another within feet. Davidson threads the needle to Shaw, a strong low shot is easily covered up by the GK of Japan, but it was the shot to take no doubt. Heaps though double teams is the target of a throw? Again with a pair Heaps on the receiving end. Thompson’s speed gets a steal in now near the end line and in to Heaps she is collapsed on by the defender. US throw near the area of Japan as they sub, they go back with it Albert sends the ball outside to Fox and the US gives it up. Thompson to the end line and it sails long and wide. Shaw nods one ahead defended out and it goes to the keeper? Long ball for Lynn, she catches up to it the GK gets it and falls on it. Jenna, no outlet for a throw goes to a covered Heaps then goes back. Campbell has the ball with less than 3 minutes to go, why? Davidson to Jenna for Lynn and her header is high. Albert for Thompson her ball in out for a throw that goes to Albert to Coffey, Davidson with a long distance shot is tipped over the bar. Where has this been all game? Coffey on the ball, she goes just past the PK spot Heaps gets a weak header off and again the ‘keeper falls on it. 5’ added time, will the US get one to make it interesting? Shaw with a tackle, it gets to Lynn who passes to nobody. Shaw for Heaps who is hacked just beyond the area, this is a shot and they are pulling the ‘keeper. The US do not score much on free kicks and again do not , the ball in by Shaw was just lobbed in the air and sent back. Shaw for Jenna but she was off by the call, not the replay. Shaw held up then dropped. Final ticks on the clock and a long DFK nodded up by a teammate and out Japan wins.