Japan got the best of the US last night, as the world No. 5 Nadeshiko snapped the No. 2 US national team's 10-game winning streak with a 1-0 USWNT vs Japan win in rainy Seattle.
Despite maintaining the lion’s share of possession, the US struggled to advance the ball past Japan’s counter-press, conceding Maika Hamano’s first-half strike before failing to net the equalizer.
“When you can push yourself to play against the very best opponents in every situation, that is how you improve,” USWNT manager Emma Hayes said postgame.
After a veteran group secured Saturday’s opening win, Hayes opted to give a younger set some experience by swapping out her entire starting XI.
20-year-old midfielder Claire Hutton became the youngest player to wear the captain’s armband since 2001, with Tuesday’s lineup averaging 23.9 caps — compared to the weekend’s 56.3.
“We’ve got players that have some of the recipe, and they’re trying to implement it in their entirety, but it's a work in progress, and I think if I play solely to win, we maybe don’t change a lot in these games,” Hayes said of her choices.
“I don’t regret those decisions. I just know when a player shines against a certain type of opponent, for example, teams we might have played in January, let me see what you look like against Japan.”
How to Watch Friday's USWNT vs Japan Friendly
The series now moves to Colorado, as the rubber match kicks off on Friday at 9 PM ET, live on TNT.
