U.S. falls to Japan in first match of U-20 Women’s NTC Invitational
CARSON, California (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team fell to its counterparts from Japan, 3-0, in its opening game of the 2015 U-20 Women’s NTC Invitational.
The four-team tournament is being played on Glen “Mooch” Myernick Field at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center and also features Brazil and Mexico. The second match day on June 4 will see Brazil face Japan at 3 p.m. PT followed by the USA and Mexico at 6 p.m. PT. The final match day on June 6 pits Japan vs. Mexico at 12 p.m. followed by the USA and Brazil at 3 p.m.
All of the teams are currently preparing for qualifying for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup which will be held in Papua New Guinea.
Japan got off to a quick start, taking the lead in just the sixth minute when Rikako Kobayashi received a ball on the right wing and slipped a pass into the corner of the penalty box for Yuki Mizutani, who evaded a U.S. defender to shoot towards the far post and over U.S. goalkeeper Casey Murphy.
Japan doubled its lead in the 38th minute after a nice build-up that got up the middle to Kobayashi, who flicked the ball, first-time to Yui Hasegawa in the middle of the field at the top of the penalty box. Hasegawa finished just inside the left post to make it 2-0.
Japan got an insurance goal in the 56th minute, scoring on a ball that got over the top of the U.S. defense to Rin Sumida, who was able to lift the ball over Murphy for the game’s third and final score.
It was the first international loss of this cycle for this current group of U-20s.
– U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team vs. Japan Under-20 Women’s National Team
Date: June 2, 2015
Competition: 2015 U-20 Women’s NTC Invitational
Venue: StubHub Center; Carson, California
Attendance: 300
Weather: 64 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 0 0
JPN 2 1 3
JPN – Yuki Mizutani (Rikako Kobayashi) 6th minute
JPN – Yui Hasegawa (Rikako Kobayashi) 38
JPN – Rin Sumida 56
Lineups:
USA: 18-Casey Murphy, 2-Maddie Elliston, 19-Kaleigh Riehl, 4-Natalie Jacobs, 6-Sabrina Flores, 5-Mikaela Harvey (14-Megan Buckingham, 46), 12-Emily Ogle (8-Parker Roberts, 64), 10-Marley Canales (22-Courtney Petersen, 72), 9-Mallory Pugh (7-Kelcie Hedge, 81), 13-Jordan Harr (17-Ashley Sanchez, 17), 11-Taylor Racioppi (16-Savannah DeMelo, 64)
Subs not used: 1-Sam Leshnak, 3-Alana Cook, Hana Kerner
Head Coach: Michelle French
JPN: 1-Mamiko Matsumoto, 9-Asato Miyagawa (4-Risa Shimizu, 60), 2-Ruka Norimatsu, 8-Nana Ichise, 6-Hikaru Kitagawa (5-Misaki Takemura, 72), 10-Rin Sumida, 11-Yuki Mizutani (14-Hina Sugita, 60), 16-Yuka Miomiki (15-Narumi Miura, 72), 13-Yui Hasegawa (12-Mizuki Sonoda, 86), 20-Rikako Kobayashi, 19-Akari Shiraki (17-Kiko Seike, 60)
Subs Not Used: 3-Hisui Haza, 7-Shiho Matisubara, 18-Yukari Morita
Head Coach: Asako Takakura
Stats Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 4 / 10
Shots on Goal: 3 / 7
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 8 / 7
Fouls: 4 / 1
Offside: 0 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
None
Officials:
Referee: Reyna Fonseca
Assistant Referee 1: Kristen Patterson
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Gonzalez
Fourth Official: Samantha Moos
