The United States women’s national team came from behind to defeat Japan 2-1 in the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup. Lindsey Horan converted a penalty kick in the 77th minute to seal the win in front of a record crowd of 50,644 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This crowd was the largest ever for a friendly match involving the U.S. women’s team on home soil and also marked the biggest attendance for a women’s game in the U.S. since the 1999 World Cup final. The game also saw the return of Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario after lengthy absences due to injury.
Japan took the lead just 30 seconds into the game with a goal from Kiko Seike. Swanson, playing her first game after a year-long injury layoff, had a couple of chances to score but was denied by the Japanese goalkeeper. Macario, who made her first appearance with the national team in two years after recovering from an ACL tear, came on as a second-half substitute. Jaedyn Shaw equalized for the U.S. with a goal from outside the penalty box, making her the first U.S. player to score five goals in five consecutive career starts.
Before Shaw’s goal, the U.S. suffered a setback as defender Naomi Girma had to be substituted off with a thigh injury. Lindsey Horan sealed the win for the U.S. with a game-winning penalty kick after Sophia Smith was brought down in the box. The match also saw controversy surrounding substitute Korbin Albert, who had reposted anti-LGBTQ+ content on her social media. Albert apologized for her actions, and Alex Morgan addressed the issue in a statement, emphasizing the team’s commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful space.
In the late game, Canada defeated Brazil on penalties after a 1-1 draw, setting up a final showdown between the United States and Canada in the SheBelieves Cup. Brazil will play Japan in the other match. All four teams participating in the tournament have qualified for the Olympics in France this summer. Twila Kilgore is coaching the U.S. team on an interim basis until the arrival of new coach Emma Hayes, who is finishing the season with Chelsea. The SheBelieves Cup final between the United States and Canada will take place in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday.
