USWNT vs Japan kicks off for all the marbles tonight, as the elite women’s soccer nations enter tonight’s series rubber match with one win apiece.
The US opened the three-friendly showdown with a veteran-fueled 2-1 win on Saturday, before the Nadeshiko turned the tide with Tuesday’s 1-0 shutout.
“I think we dominated a lot of really good things without having the secret sauce,” US manager Emma Hayes said after Japan snapped the team’s 10-game winning streak.
“We had a lot of control, and that’s a really good thing. But it’s like, alright, with all that control, what can we do?” midfielder Lindsey Heaps said.
“It’s that finishing phase. We had three, four chances at the end there. Continuing to build the connections in the final third is super important for us.”
Hayes opted for a full roster rotation between the first and second games, but tonight’s decider will likely feature a more balanced mix of seasoned experience and youthful firepower.
However, Hayes hasn’t yet adopted a win-now approach, even as the USWNT inches closer to November’s World Cup qualifiers.
“If I chose feeling good about everything, I’d make much different choices,” Hayes told reporters. “I’m a developer of talent — I believe in the combination of winning for today and tomorrow.”
How to Watch Friday's USWNT vs Japan Friendly
The US kicks off against Japan tonight at 9 PM ET, live on TNT.
