San Francisco (United States) (AFP) – Rose Lavelle celebrated her 100th international cap with a goal and set up another as the United States beat Japan 2-1 in the first of two friendlies between the two women’s international football powerhouses on Saturday.
Gotham FC midfielder Lavelle, the reigning US Female Player of the Year, opened the scoring after just nine minutes at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, after hooking in a lobbed cross from Trinity Rodman. The 30-year-old attacker, one of the stars of the USA’s last FIFA Women’s World Cup victory in 2019, also played a key role in the home side’s second goal just after half-time. A sweeping counter-attack ended with Lavelle steering a pass into the path of midfielder Lindsey Heaps who duly tucked away a low finish into the corner past Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
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Japan, who clinched their third Women’s Asian Cup title last month with a victory over Australia, rallied later in the half and pulled a goal back through substitute striker Riko Ueki in the 61st minute. But despite a flurry of chances from the Japanese, the US defence held firm to clinch victory — the 2024 Olympic gold medallists’ 10th consecutive win under English manager Emma Hayes as they build towards next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
The two teams will meet again in a second friendly in Seattle on Tuesday.
© 2024 AFP
