The USWNT sealed the deal on Friday, silencing Japan 3-0 to return to league play with a 2-1 friendly series win.
All three goals came in the second half. Defender Naomi Girma broke the stalemate off a corner kick, before midfielder Rose Lavelle doubled the lead on a Trinity Rodman assist. Then, defender Kennedy Wesley subsequently polished things off with her first-ever senior team goal.
“I think you could feel that there was a goal coming,” Wesley said postgame. “We had a lot of good chances... The team has been working so hard to wrap this camp up on a good note and show all the details that we have been working on, so it was a great showing from the group.”
“I think we’ve been really clear about what’s important to us, the process is always of the highest order,” said US manager Emma Hayes. “Have we made progress in these three games? A million percent.”
Friday’s lineup drew from the previous starting XIs: veterans coming off a win and a young squad smarting from a loss. The team managed to effectively hold possession while generating attacking power against an organized Japan.
Defender Tierna Davidson earned her first start of the series as she works her way back from last year’s ACL tear. Up front, Rodman teamed up with Alyssa Thompson and Sophia Wilson to form another magnetic partnership.
“You can’t become elite without rehearsal, failure, and learning — it doesn’t go in a straight line,” Hayes continued. “Of course I want to win every game, but not at the expense of what we’re trying to build.”
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