USWNT Faces Japan in Second Leg of Two-Game Series on Sunday in Cleveland

USWNT Faces Japan in Second Leg of Two-Game Series on Sunday in Cleveland

The U.S. Women’s National Team has just three matches remaining before departing for Brazil and the 2016 Olympics and two friendly matches against Japan are providing excellent preparation.

In the first meeting between the two teams since the 2015 Women’s World Cup Final, the USA and Japan played to a wild 3-3 draw on June 2 in Commerce City, Colo., that saw the USA go down 2-0 after 22 minutes, only to roar back to take a 3-2 lead heading into stoppage time on goals from Alex Morgan, one in each half, and a dramatic 89th minute header from hometown hero Lindsey Horan. The referee added four minutes and Japan equalized in the third minute of stoppage time.

The teams will go at it again in Cleveland on June 5 in front of more than 20,000 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium (12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2) with the USA hoping for a better start and a better finish.

The USA and Japan have a rich history dating back to 1986, the second year of the U.S. WNT program, but of course it’s the more recent meetings which have forever linked these two countries together in women’s soccer history. While the streak will end at this summer’s Olympics as Japan failed to qualify, the USA and Japan have met in the last three world finals, with the USA losing the 2011 Women’s World Cup in penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie over regulation and overtime, then winning the 2012 Olympic goal medal game 2-1, and the historic 2015 Women’s World Cup Final 5-2

USA and Japan starting line-ups for international friendly:

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Match abandoned in the 76th minute due to weather

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