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OGM Radio: USWNT vs. Japan Pre-Rio 2016 Two-Game Series

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InternationalRadioUSWNT
··2 min read

On the upcoming live radio show, JJ and Rachael discuss the two-game series between the United States Women’s National Team and Japan in a rematch of the 2015 World Cup final. Join us and special guest Jennifer Gordon to break down the games, the roster choices for the U.S., and the good, the bad, and the ugly — and we don’t just mean the weather.

Listen

Game Synopses

In the meantime, here’s what went down in the two-game series:

USA 3–3 Japan
June 2, 2016

In the first match, the U.S. and Japan played to a 3-3 draw in front of a sell-out crowd of 18,572 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. The USWNT went down, 2-0, in the first 25 minutes from goals Mana Iwabuchi and Yuki Ogimi. Iwabuchi’s goal was a beaut:

Alex Morgan cut the lead in half shortly after in the 27th minute from terrific buildup play from Crystal Dunn and Mallory Pugh.

Morgan added another to equalize in the 64th minute off a free kick from Tobin Heath. The U.S. took the lead in the 89th minute when Lindsey Horan headed home a ball from the left by Kelley O’Hara. In stoppage time and down to 10 players, Japan found the equalizer when Kumi Yokoyama found the back of the net from a gorgeous passing sequence:

USA 2–0 Japan (match abandoned in the 76th minute due to weather)
June 5, 2016

The two teams met again on Sunday, June 5, in Cleveland, Ohio. A markedly different start to the game for the U.S. Julie Johnston put the U.S. ahead in the 27th minute and was probably (okay, most definitely offside) while doing it:

In the 62 minute, Morgan added another from terrific buildup play that started with Johnston. Yes, that was Crystal Dunn in the mix again.

 

Unfortunately, the match was called in the 76th minute after a weather delay. Japan did not qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The U.S. players head back to their National Women’s Soccer League teams and will regroup in July for Olympic send-off matches against South Africa.