Kennedy Wesley’s first international goal sparks USA to win over Japan | USA women’s football team

Kennedy Wesley scored her first international goal and had an assist after coming on as a substitute after halftime, Naomi Girma and Rose Lavelle each added a goal and the United States beat Japan 3-0 in a friendly Friday night.

Claudia Dickey made three saves for the United States.

Wesley, who replaced Tierna Davidson, played a header from the left post to Girma, who headed in from close range to make it 1-0 in the 47th minute.

“I felt like we came out in the second half and there was no coming back, to be honest,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said.

Davidson suffered a heavy fall in the 30th and was assessed for a few minutes, but managed to finish the first half.

Lavelle gave the United States a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute. After Japan was dispossessed near midfield, Trinity Rodman played a through ball to Lavelle, who outpaced the defense in midfield and slipped a shot from the edge of the penalty area inside the left post.

“I felt tonight we were just clinical in the final third,” Hayes said.

Lavelle has played a role in 10 scores – five goals and five assists – in his last 10 games.

Wesley scored with a volley from a corner played by Jaedyn Shaw to make it 3-0 in the 64th minute.

“I really have no words,” Wesley said. “I mean, it was the perfect ball from Jaedyn and I was just in the right place at the right time.

“I’m just over the moon.”

The United States outshot Japan 9–1 in the first half, but the match was goalless at halftime.

Japan’s Miyabi Moriya replaced Hikaru Kitagawa, who was taken off by the coaches with an injury in the 25th minute.

The match took place in near-freezing temperatures at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, home of the MLS side Colorado Rapids. Snowfall earlier in the day covered the field several hours before the game.

It was the final game of an unusual three-game series against Japan. The United States won the first match last week in San Jose, California, 2-1.

Japan won the second game 1-0 in Seattle on Tuesday night, ending the United States’ 10-game winning streak. The United States had not lost since their 2-1 defeat against Portugal on October 23. The Americans had not been shut out in 42 games.

Hayes swapped his entire starting lineup in the second game as the team builds its player pool for World Cup qualifying later this year. It was the fourth time in Hayes’ tenure that she started a completely different lineup in back-to-back games.

Japan had just won the Women’s Asian Cup championship. The team outscored their opponents 29-1 and beat Australia 1-0 in the final.

Known for their technical prowess, the Japanese also beat the United States last year in the SheBelieves Cup.

“They’re a world-class team,” Hayes said before Friday night’s game. “I think when you win the first one, inevitably the second one becomes that challenge. They’re a top team, so we have to give them a lot of credit. So, here we go for game three.”