Yes, but credit to Hamano, she kept looking to the centre of the box as if she were going to pass it to one of the two Japanese players there. Phallon set herself accordingly, but then without shifting her head Hamano takes a no-look shot into the top of the net. Pretty classy.
⚽As a Japanese football fan, I’d like to offer my opinion. First, I’m grateful for the wonderful environment provided. ⚽Both countries fielded different lineups than in the first match, but the players attacked and defended well. ⚽Although Japan ultimately won, I highly rate it as a fruitful match for both countries. ⚽There seems to be criticism of coach Emma Hayes from the US side, but if that’s the case, I hope they’ll let her take over as coach of the Japanese women’s team until the World Cup. What fault did she have? ⚽I look forward to a thrilling third match that showcases the strengths of both countries to the audience. 🇯🇵🤝🇺🇸
Possession means nothing because teams like Japan is well organized and lets US hold the ball on purpose. 9 shots with 34% possession is highly efficient.
Nadeshiko in between Asian Cup final and this US challenge, they lost their head coach. How shocking! And most of the players had to go back to Europe for a game or two then immediately travel all the way to the US west coast. That’s not easy. But to my eyes, Nadeshiko is intact as a team What a discipline they have! 🤩
This match is a test game for both teams, as they aim to reach the World Cup final.
I hope that Japan will face the USA in next year’s World Cup final.
Hard to watch. IMO entire back line needs to go. Keeper not good enough. Almost lost the ball at her feet. Should have cleared a ball up field and half hearted kick out of bounds giving the ball away on her own half, punched the ball 3 feet in front of the goal, and should have stopped the goal.Bottom line..our team was too nice. Got pushed around, tugged on.. in no way did we fight back. Did we get a single yellow card? You need one or two people that are enforcers on the field.. They were afraid to make mistakes, passed backwards way too much.. struggled with the press. Back to the drawing board. Shaw and Sentnor stay.. the rest can go. Who else do we have.
This game is not so much what US couldn’t or didn’t do. It’s Japan stepping up their defense game. They defensively hustled and quickly closed in to stop US ball possession and prevented US from making good passes. That’s what really won this game for Japan.
Japan players are quick, if they really organized their defense game. It’s hard to score on them.
The US is still struggling with individual ball control. This is basic training for any young player. Take a look at the Japanese model on how they teach their young players ball control.
If you can’t control the ball you cannot pass or carry out any form of advanced attack. Kicking hard and running fast does not give you control in game.
Let us be realistic, Japan is a very good team. As such it showed with their skills, attack and defense. The USWNT had the overall quicker and faster side in sprints, but Japan, slower in such area played better to their strength as a team. Trinity is a great player. But the goal location is not the space between the eighteen yards box, and or hugging the side lines. Also, I am concerned that she is playing herself into a mid field role, instead of an attacker. Something needs to change, as it is in 2026, with zero goals for club, and only two for the country. Those should not be injury related.
SheBelieves Cup winners 2025 Japan were not invited to SheBelieves Cup 2026 as holders.
US then win SheBelieves Cup 2026. The US hace had NO tests since 2025 and regardless having Emma Hayes as bead coach, the players arrogances of being fed US media propaganda that they are the “best”.
The days US won world cups was when the Europe and other natons didnt take it seriously enough.
Since then Europe and the rest of the world are taking it super seriously and US trading on past.
@jasminerosa3498
April 15, 2026 at 2:28 am
That jump! Just a liiiiiittle higher and that would not have been a goal. So close!!!!🇺🇸
@user-cb3kv4fe7
April 15, 2026 at 7:27 am
Yes, but credit to Hamano, she kept looking to the centre of the box as if she were going to pass it to one of the two Japanese players there. Phallon set herself accordingly, but then without shifting her head Hamano takes a no-look shot into the top of the net. Pretty classy.
@hieustuart9998
April 15, 2026 at 3:02 am
The worse game ever!
@ryujisato7466
April 15, 2026 at 4:00 am
⚽As a Japanese football fan, I’d like to offer my opinion. First, I’m grateful for the wonderful environment provided. ⚽Both countries fielded different lineups than in the first match, but the players attacked and defended well. ⚽Although Japan ultimately won, I highly rate it as a fruitful match for both countries. ⚽There seems to be criticism of coach Emma Hayes from the US side, but if that’s the case, I hope they’ll let her take over as coach of the Japanese women’s team until the World Cup. What fault did she have? ⚽I look forward to a thrilling third match that showcases the strengths of both countries to the audience. 🇯🇵🤝🇺🇸
@vamosnippon
April 15, 2026 at 4:02 am
Possession means nothing because teams like Japan is well organized and lets US hold the ball on purpose. 9 shots with 34% possession is highly efficient.
@Yyy000aa
April 15, 2026 at 8:19 pm
Possession means nothing because the only score that counts is the goals.
If possession is all that matters, Spain would always be champions.
In the World Cup, spin had almost 200 passes completed but still lost 2-1 to Japan
@YO-km4by
April 15, 2026 at 4:21 am
“We should take a page out of America’s book—their thoughtfulness and their ability to keep pushing forward.”
@headsoul-v2y
April 15, 2026 at 4:32 am
Japan also kept its key players on the bench until the very end of the second half.
@JoshuaFazeli
April 15, 2026 at 4:36 am
Really poor game by the USWNT. They need the young players to have more finesse, creative shock making and urgency.
@ความจงรักภักดีต่อฮิโนมารุ
April 15, 2026 at 5:01 am
We send our congratulations from Thailand to the great Japanese Empire, the King of Asia!
@yoshitomosaito8879
April 15, 2026 at 5:12 am
Nadeshiko in between Asian Cup final and this US challenge, they lost their head coach. How shocking! And most of the players had to go back to Europe for a game or two then immediately travel all the way to the US west coast. That’s not easy. But to my eyes, Nadeshiko is intact as a team What a discipline they have! 🤩
@GumbyEU
April 15, 2026 at 5:12 am
A bunch of excuse making and copium coming from the American pundits. You’re miles behind Spain England and France
@albertwhittaker6385
April 15, 2026 at 5:13 am
Just dumb passing decisions made by USA.
@shipa40
April 15, 2026 at 6:12 am
So many excuses lol
@soulhide80
April 15, 2026 at 6:17 am
This match is a test game for both teams, as they aim to reach the World Cup final.
I hope that Japan will face the USA in next year’s World Cup final.
@MarkrogerGacias-n1b
April 15, 2026 at 6:43 am
Japan is the first country in asia to win a world cup.
@mr333333333
April 15, 2026 at 7:55 am
Maika Hamano has scored again since the Asian Cup final—what a goal! 😊
@八尺様-w6r
April 15, 2026 at 8:42 am
公式戦ならハンドやったかもな。
それも含めて三戦目が楽しみだな。
アメリカも出し惜しみは無しで頼むぞ😃
@allweek8124
April 15, 2026 at 11:12 am
Hard to watch. IMO entire back line needs to go. Keeper not good enough. Almost lost the ball at her feet. Should have cleared a ball up field and half hearted kick out of bounds giving the ball away on her own half, punched the ball 3 feet in front of the goal, and should have stopped the goal.Bottom line..our team was too nice. Got pushed around, tugged on.. in no way did we fight back. Did we get a single yellow card? You need one or two people that are enforcers on the field.. They were afraid to make mistakes, passed backwards way too much.. struggled with the press. Back to the drawing board. Shaw and Sentnor stay.. the rest can go. Who else do we have.
@allweek8124
April 15, 2026 at 11:14 am
From the starting lineup that is
@zzzthaoster
April 15, 2026 at 11:51 am
This game is not so much what US couldn’t or didn’t do. It’s Japan stepping up their defense game. They defensively hustled and quickly closed in to stop US ball possession and prevented US from making good passes. That’s what really won this game for Japan.
Japan players are quick, if they really organized their defense game. It’s hard to score on them.
@themanMX_Rider
April 15, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Japan focuses on technical precision with both feet, rather than relying on raw power to overwhelm opponents like the U.S. does
@MM-wu2we
April 15, 2026 at 12:13 pm
The US is still struggling with individual ball control. This is basic training for any young player. Take a look at the Japanese model on how they teach their young players ball control.
If you can’t control the ball you cannot pass or carry out any form of advanced attack. Kicking hard and running fast does not give you control in game.
@iadvantage2
April 15, 2026 at 12:37 pm
Let us be realistic, Japan is a very good team. As such it showed with their skills, attack and defense. The USWNT had the overall quicker and faster side in sprints, but Japan, slower in such area played better to their strength as a team. Trinity is a great player. But the goal location is not the space between the eighteen yards box, and or hugging the side lines. Also, I am concerned that she is playing herself into a mid field role, instead of an attacker. Something needs to change, as it is in 2026, with zero goals for club, and only two for the country. Those should not be injury related.
@poetcauseur3113
April 15, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Success is not always a win. It’s a learning game and better they lose now than in the WWC.
@khh8776
April 15, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Hamano is evolving into a kawaii (cute) Messi. <3 ❤❤
@darrellpowell6042
April 15, 2026 at 6:18 pm
SheBelieves Cup winners 2025 Japan were not invited to SheBelieves Cup 2026 as holders.
US then win SheBelieves Cup 2026. The US hace had NO tests since 2025 and regardless having Emma Hayes as bead coach, the players arrogances of being fed US media propaganda that they are the “best”.
The days US won world cups was when the Europe and other natons didnt take it seriously enough.
Since then Europe and the rest of the world are taking it super seriously and US trading on past.