Emma Hayes fielded a decidedly second choice squad on Tuesday with the USA falling 1-0 to Japan in a rainy night in Seattle. Japan grabbed an early lead and the starting XI for the Stars and Stripes never really got anything going. If there are any positives from the match, it’s that once regulars started entering the fray the team managed to create more chances. Of course, it being a friendly the match was prone to sudden shifts in momentum. With the rubber match upon them, the USWNT will look to bounce
back and end the international window with a win.
That match will be played in Commerce, Colorado and will give fans of the Denver Summit a chance to possibly see Lindsey Heaps playing in front of a home crowd ahead of her summer transfer to the NWSL side. Heaps and Rose Lavelle played alongside each other in the opener and the third game might see Hayes once again to integrate their styles. Speaking of player combinations, Naomi Girma did not play in Seattle and Hayes may want another look at how she pairs with Emily Sonnett and Tierna Davidson for that matter.
So far Hayes has fielded what looked like a first choice lineup and a younger one. In the second match, those players got a first hand look at what top international competition looks like. The manager could use the third game as an opportunity to put veterans together with players getting early caps for an improved performance over the second game.
As far as Japan, the team saw no. 10 Fuka Nagano start both games along with center back Moeka Minami. With another game on short rest, Nadeshiko Japan will need to rely on depth in key roles to get a result in the match. The team will have its work cut out for it if the USA plays a stronger lineup. In the first match, the Americans had the better of the chances and dominated possession and will likely have the players on the field to do the same in the final game.
While the game does have an air of a friendly with more consequential games on the horizon, the USA has now lost two of its last three games against Japan. This will no doubt be in the players minds as they take on their opponents for the final game. The team is likely going to be able to dominate possession and Japan will want to stay compact and find chances on the counter as it did in the first two matches. The Americans will need to be on their game to find a breakthrough and build the consistency that it needs when World Cup qualification comes around at the end of the year.
