Chester, PA
For a cold February night in Philadelphia, the close to full crowd at Talen Energy Park was impressive in size and vocal support of the US Women’s Team. It was only the twenty-third minute when Tobin Heath drove from the wing past the defenders for a left-ward cross into the box. On the receiving end was Megan Rapinoe, who confidently popped the ball past Japan’s tall keeper, Erina Yamane.
The score stood at 1-0 until the sixty-seventh minute, when Japan’s Emi Nakajima struck off of a Tiera Davidson attempted clear to shoot the ball into the upper left portion of the US goal.
The Captain, Alex Morgan, held title to the the second goal at the seventy-sixth minute, off of a pass from the speedy Christen Press.
With the US in control of possession, it looked as though the game would end in a 2-1 US win. But in stoppage time at the ninety-first minute, Uka Momika scored off of a Yui Hasegama assist.
Tobin Heath owned the right side of the field all night long, with Japan’s Saori Ariyoshi looking on.
Julie Ertz stretches for a cross that stayed in just at the end line.
Mallory Pugh passes a resting Japan player with Hina Sugita in chase.
Alex Morgan’s successful shot raised the stakes to 2-1, steps in front of Japan’s Saki Kumagai
The roles of Saki Kumagai and Alex Morgan reversed.
The US team trying to score on a corner.
The veteran Megan Rapinoe with Abby Dahlkemper in the background.
