Lindsey Horan converted a 77th-minute penalty to give the United States a 2-1 win over Japan and send them into the final of the SheBelieves Cup.
The game in Atlanta drew a crowd of 50,644 – the largest for the USA women’s team on home soil since they won the 1999 World Cup final.
Kiko Seike gave Japan the lead after just 30 seconds but Jaedyn Shaw equalised on 21 minutes.
The hosts will face Brazil or Canada in Tuesday’s final in Columbus.
The four-team invitational tournament consists of four games, with the semi-finals played in a double-header at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Twila Kilgore, the interim head coach until current Chelsea boss Emma Hayes takes over in June, left Korbin Albert out of the US starting line-up following a controversy about social media posts from the Paris St-Germain midfielder.
The 20-year-old came on as a 78th-minute substitute.
Albert has apologised for sharing content,external-link including a religious video about transgender and LGBTQ issues. That social media activity appeared to be heavily criticised by World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe.
The retired former US captain, known for her activism, did not mention Albert by name but expressed concern that such content was contributing to “hate” against the LGBTQ community.
Seike gave Japan a shock lead on Saturday against the American hosts who deservedly drew level as Sam Coffey set up Shaw to fire a fifth goal in her last five games for the national team.
Horan later converted from the spot after Sophia Smith was fouled by Hina Sugita.
“The ability to come back and keep that level of confidence that we have and the style of play that we are playing, [the USA] deserve a lot of credit,” said Kilgore.
Line-ups
USA
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Naeher
23Fox4Girma12Davidson3Nighswonger
8Shaw17Coffey
22Rodman10Horan9Swanson
13Morgan
1Naeher23FoxSubstituted forKruegerat 63’minutes4GirmaSubstituted forDahlkemperat 18’minutes12Davidson3Nighswonger8ShawSubstituted forSonnettat 63’minutes17CoffeySubstituted forAlbertat 78’minutes22RodmanSubstituted forSmithat 63’minutes10Horan9SwansonSubstituted forDunnat 78’minutes13MorganSubstituted forMacárioat 78’minutesSubstitutes2Dahlkemper5Moultrie6Gaetino7Macário11Smith14Sonnett15Albert16Yohannes18Murphy19Dunn20Krueger21Campbell
Japan
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Yamashita
2Shimizu4Kumagai3Minami5Moriya
19Tanikawa10Nagano
17Seike14Hasegawa15Fujino
9Ueki
1Yamashita2Shimizu4Kumagai3MinamiBooked at 29mins5MoriyaSubstituted forSugitaat 45’minutes19TanikawaSubstituted forKogaat 45’minutes10Nagano17SeikeSubstituted forHamanoat 45’minutes14Hasegawa15FujinoSubstituted forMiyazawaat 87’minutes9UekiBooked at 45minsSubstituted forTanakaat 70’minutesSubstitutes6Sugita7Miyazawa8Ueno11Tanaka12Ishikawa13Kitagawa16Hayashi18Hirao20Koga21Ohba22Hamano
Referee:Myriam Marcotte
Attendance:50,644
Live Text
Match ends, USA 2, Japan 1.
Second Half ends, USA 2, Japan 1.
Attempt saved. Saki Kumagai (Japan) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Yui Hasegawa with a cross.
Corner, Japan. Conceded by Emily Sonnett.
Lindsey Horan (USA) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Hinata Miyazawa (Japan).
Foul by Tierna Davidson (USA).
Mina Tanaka (Japan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Japan. Hinata Miyazawa replaces Aoba Fujino.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Saki Kumagai (Japan).
Attempt missed. Saki Kumagai (Japan) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Maika Hamano following a corner.
Corner, Japan. Conceded by Emily Sonnett.
Corner, Japan. Conceded by Crystal Dunn.
Dangerous play by Catarina Macário (USA).
Toko Koga (Japan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Mina Tanaka (Japan) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Yui Hasegawa with a cross.
Foul by Casey Krueger (USA).
Hina Sugita (Japan) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, USA. Crystal Dunn replaces Mallory Swanson.
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