The U.S. women’s national team’s return to Atlanta after nearly 8 years ended with a 2-1 win over Japan in the first of two SheBelieves Cup semifinal matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In front of an attendance of 50,644, the USWNT had hoped to thrill the Atlanta crowd in its first match in the city since winning a 3-1 friendly against the Netherlands at the Georgia Dome on Sept. 18, 2016.
Japan, though, saw themselves off to a dream start just over 30 seconds in through Kiko Seike, who ran in unchallenged into the box and caromed it off the inside of the far post beyond an outstretched Alyssa Naeher to make it 1-0.
The U.S had a glorious chance to equalize in the 15th minute as Lindsey Horan’s through-ball found Mallory Swanson in the box. Swanson, in her 1st action with the national team in nearly a year, was able to get enough space to get a shot off but it was cleared off the goal line by a Japanese defender.
Moments later in the 21st, the U.S. did make it 1-1. Jaedyn Shaw scored her 5th goal in as many national team starts as she ripped home a long-range effort that left Japanese goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita no chance.
The USWNT came out of the halftime break on the front foot but saw several chances to make it a 2-1 contest go begging. But after Sophia Smith was taken down just inside the box in the 76th minute, referee Myriam Marcotte pointed to the spot and Lindsey Horan cooly converted her penalty to give the Americans a deserved lead.
It wasn’t the cleanest effort for the USWNT, but it’s a victory that they’ll build on heading into the SheBelieves Cup final in Columbus. They’ll face Canada, who drew Brazil 1-1 but won 4-2 in penalties, Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET at Lower.com Field.