After making short work of Canada in their SheBelieves Cup opener, the American ladies tasted victory once again, this time against Japan as the game ended 1-0. It was Mallory Swanson once again who found the back of the net after doing so twice in the curtain raiser.
It was a closely contested affair with Japan dominating possession of the ball, 55% to 45%, as well as seven corner kicks to one. The ninth-ranked team did everything right except for scoring.
That wasn’t a problem for Swanson however, who stuck just before the half-time whistle.
On the counter attack, right back Sofia Huerta picked out Alex Morgan in the middle of the park. The two-time World Cup winner controlled the ball in the center circle, turned and played it forward for Swanson who beat her defender to the ball and then pulled the trigger as she sprinted into the 18 yard box, beating the keeper at the near post.
This was the 24-year-old’s fifth straight game where she found the back of the net, and she currently has 31 international goals to her name.
At the other end, the American defense continued excelling with another shut-out, keeping four consecutive clean sheets.
After a friendly defeat at the hands of Spain last October, the USWNT has been on a roll, winning six out of six and out scoring their opponents 16-2.
In the other game, Canada beat Brazil 2-0, leaving the Americans leading the standings on 6 points, Canada and Brazil on 3 each, and Japan on zero.
A draw against Brazil on Tuesday night will be enough to make it four SheBelieves Cups in a row for Team USA.
