U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team falls 1-0 to Japan in first of two exhibition matches
The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team gave up a goal in the 81st minute in a 1-0 loss to Japan in the first of two games against the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup hosts.
It was the first loss of the year for the U.S. U-20s who had gone a perfect 11-0-0 in international play prior to the match. A slightly sluggish U.S. side battled with the Japanese for 80 minutes before the home side scored the lone goal of the match as the hosts perhaps created a bit more danger over the course of the game.
The goal came when a shot from outside the penalty area bounced off the crossbar and fell to an open Yoko Tanaka who finished well to give her team what would be the winning score.
The USA has several chances to tie the game inside of the last five minutes but were denied by several quality saves from the Japanese goalkeeper and a sturdy defense that blocked a few dangerous shots inside the box.
The match was played in front of more than 2,000 fans at Nagai Stadium. The two teams will meet again on June 20 at the J-Green Sakai National Training Center.
The USA and Japan will both be participating in the U-20 Women’s World Cup taking place at five venues in Japan from Aug. 19-Sept. 8. Japan was placed in Group A with Mexico, New Zealand and Switzerland. The USA was drawn into Group D with Ghana, Germany and China PR.
Match: United States U-20 Women’s National Team vs. Japan U-20 Women’s National Team
Date: June 17, 2012
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan
Weather:89 degrees, sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 0 0
JPN 0 1 1
USA – Yoko Tanaka 81st minute
Lineups:
USA: 1-Bryane Heaberlin; 4-Crystal Dunn (19-Stephanie Amack, 75), 8-Julie Johnston, 3-Cari Roccaro, 2-Mollie Pathman (capt.), 16-Sarah Killion (10-Mandy Laddish, 69), 12-Vanessa DiBernardo, 6-Morgan Brian (15-Samantha Mewis, 62), 11-Lindsey Horan, 14-Katie Stengel (20-Maya Hayes, 46) 7-Kealia Ohai (9-Chioma Ubogagu, 46)
Subs Not Used: 5-Kassey Kallman, 13-Ashley Meier, 17-Olivia Brannon, 18-Abby Smith, 24-Jami Kranich
Head Coach: Steve Swanson
JPN: 1-Sakiko Ikeda; 15-Yushika Nakamura (22-Asuka Nishikawa, 72), 4-Tomoko Muramatsu (3-Riho Sakamoto, 62), 2-Shiori Kinoshita (capt.), 5-Haruka Hamada, 13-Mina Tanaka (17-Naoko Wada, 72), 8-Hikaru Naomoto, 9-Yoko Tanaka, 6-Ayu Nakada (18-Yu Nakasato, 46), 10-Kumi Yokoyama, 19-Ayaka Michigami
Subs Not Used: 7-Nozomi Fujita, 11-Hanae Shibata, 12-Arisa Mochizuki, 14-Chika Kato, 16-Haruna Kawashima, 20-Mami Kanazawa, 21-Manami Muraoka
Head Coach: Hiroshi Yoshida
Stats Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 8 / 12
Shots on Goal: 6 / 7
Saves: 6 / 6
Corner Kicks: 0 / 5
Fouls: 4 / 1
Offside: 2 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Cari Roccaro (caution) 26th minute
