Japan Hands USWNT Its 1st Loss Under Emma Hayes for SheBelieves Cup Title
SAN DIEGO — Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under Coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup title game.
The Americans had not lost since last February when they fell to Mexico, 2-0, in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. The loss also snapped the U.S. team’s string of five consecutive titles in the annual tournament, now in its 10th year.
The United States and Japan were both undefeated in the tournament heading into the final match at Snapdragon Stadium.
“Of course we want to win. No one wants to lose these things,” Hayes said. “But we didn’t put out our most experienced team. We put out a team we’re hoping to develop, and our goals go beyond just the SheBelieves.”
The result was a measure of revenge for first-time tournament winner Japan, which lost to the U.S., 1-0, in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympics as Hayes led the team to the gold medal in Paris. The U.S. was unbeaten in its last 14 games against Japan, a streak that dated to 2012.
Japan got off to a dream start in the second minute when U.S. goalkeeper Jane Campbell collided with one of her defenders in front of goal and Yuka Momiki gathered the ball and fired it into an open net for the early lead.
The U.S. regrouped under heavy pressure from Japan and quickly tied the score when Ally Sentnor – the U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year, who scored her first goal for the Americans on Thursday against Colombia – picked up a through ball from Catarina Macario and calmly curled a shot past Ayaka Yamashita to make it 1-1 in the 14th minute.
Japan started the second half just like it did the first: with an early goal. Campbell denied a great free kick by Japan, but her save fell right to the feet of Toko Koga, who slotted home the rebound to give her team a second lead of the game in the 50th minute. Koga had come into the match as a second-half substitute.
“They were a higher level to us throughout the whole evening,” said Hayes, who is 15-1-2 as the U.S. coach.
Hayes, who took over the team late last May ahead of the Paris Olympics, made 10 changes to the roster she used in a 2-1 victory over Australia on Sunday.
Jane Campbell got her eighth career start in goal for the national team as Hayes looks to develop goalkeepers after Alyssa Naeher’s retirement last year.
The U.S. team was playing in the tournament without the trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Sophia (Smith) Wilson. Rodman is rehabbing a back injury, Smith was not yet in game form, and Swanson was out for personal commitments.
“I’d love to have all of our top players available, I want that, but I can only pick the players that are available,” Hayes said. “I think you want to learn this lesson now. This is the game I really wanted for us to really see where players who have played less than five matches for the national team, what’s really missing for them, whether it’s in possession or out of possession.”
Japan was coming off a 4-1 victory over Colombia on Sunday. Mina Tanaka, who plays for the Utah Royals in the NWSL, led all players in with four goals and three assists and was named tournament MVP.
Colombia got its first win in its SheBelieves finale earlier Wednesday. Wendy Bonilla and Catalina Usme both scored in a 2-1 victory over Australia.
Conclusion
The loss was a tough pill to swallow for the U.S. team, but it also presented an opportunity for growth and development. With a young team, it’s essential to find ways to test their skills and push them to their limits. The SheBelieves Cup was an excellent experience for many of the players, and they will only benefit from the exposure.
FAQs
What was the score of the SheBelieves Cup final?
The final score was Japan 2, United States 1.
How many goals did Toko Koga score?
Toko Koga scored one goal in the match.
What was the significance of the loss for the USWNT?
The loss snapped the U.S. team’s string of five consecutive titles in the SheBelieves Cup and marked their first loss under Coach Emma Hayes.
Who was the MVP of the tournament?
Mina Tanaka, who plays for the Utah Royals in the NWSL, was named tournament MVP.
