Kirin Challenge Cup Recap: United States Women's National Team vs. Japan

The United States women’s national team traveled to Japan for the Kirin Challenge Cup against Japan and Brazil, and the first match took place early Sunday morning against Japan.

FIFA Player of the Year Homare Sawa remained out of the Japanese lineup with symptoms of vertigo, but Japan was just as technical and tough in her absence. As the match got underway Japan controlled early possession. At about the 14-minute mark the US found some rhythm. Their play earned them the first corner of the match. Kaihori made an easy save.

The US women continued their attack and earned two more corners in quick succession, but nothing came from either. It was then that the current World Cup champions regained their form and started to control possession and give the defense fits. At the 22-minute mark Japan put the US in danger, but the backline was able once again to clear the ball.

Then came the set pieces from arguably the current best team in the world.

Although the US defended the early set pieces Japan continued to maintain possession and make the USWNT chase.

In the 32nd minute, Japan’s Kawasumi put a beautiful touch on the ball, lifting it just over the defense and at the feet of Kinga. Kinga attempted a pass that was deflected and then saved by Solo, but not captured. The defense scrambled but could not stop Kinga from cleaning it up and putting Japan on the board.

The United States' rising star, Alex Morgan, nearly found the back of the net in the 41st minute, but Kaihori got just enough of her hand on the tough shot to force it wide. From there the clock ticked away until the half.

The US began the second half with intensity. They wanted to get the equalizer early, but despite the pressure were unable to convert. During the 49th minute Carli Lloyd took a free kick that went just a tad too high and skimmed over the crossbar.

The best chance early in the second half came during the 57th minute when Morgan intercepted a bad pass by Kaihori. However, her pass to Wambach was too long, and the US missed a golden opportunity. Five minutes later Japan’s Kawasumi missed her opportunity off a US giveaway that she should have finished.

The two sides exchanged possession, and both sides came up empty on clean scoring opportunities. Kawasumi took another shot during the 69th minute, but Solo came up with a great save to keep the USWNT in the game. The 71st minute saw Lloyd with another opportunity, but the ball went in a straight line into the keeper’s mitts.

Just a minute later the USWNT would equalize. A US pass that was hit by Japan found Morgan on the opposite side, and she sunk it in the net. The first ruling was that Morgan was offside, but after a quick conference it was confirmed that it was touched by Japan. Morgan picked up her 12th goal of the year to continue her amazing pace.

The remainder of the match went back and forth with possession without another goal scored—1-1 the final. Both sides had missed opportunities that they will look back on to fix before the trek to London. Each side will also take positives away from the match.

Japan survived with one of the best teams in the world without their leader, Sawa.

The United States came back and equalized against their new rival to avoid yet another defeat.

Both teams have alterations to make before the Olympics, and high-profile matches like this will only make those games more special this summer.

The USWNT will hit the pitch again on Tuesday morning at 7:00 AM EST on ESPN2.