Japan suffered a 2-1 comeback defeat against the United States at the SheBelieves Cup on Saturday despite taking the lead within the game's opening 30 seconds, in the national team's first match since securing their Paris Olympics berth in February.
Nadeshiko Japan, seventh in the FIFA rankings, made a dream start as Urawa Reds forward Kiko Seike burst down the right to get on the end of a long ball from Momoko Tanikawa and steered home off the foot of the left upright at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
But the tournament's fourth-ranked hosts piled on the pressure, cheered on by a crowd of 50,644, and leveled in the 21st minute through Jaedyn Shaw's low strike from the edge of the box, leaving keeper Ayaka Yamashita stranded after Japan lost possession inside their own half.
Japan made three changes at the break but failed to turn the tide of the game, falling behind following a 77th-minute penalty from Lindsey Horan after Hina Sugita brought down Sophia Smith inside the box.
"We took the lead right after the start, but our play thereafter became passive and we kept making mistakes," Japan manager Futoshi Ikeda said. "We couldn't put a brake on our opponents' momentum."
Captain Saki Kumagai said they "have to accept the result" as she rued the mistake for the opener while trying to build from the back.
Japan will play 10th-ranked Brazil on Tuesday after the South Americans lost 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw with ninth-ranked Canada, who face the United States in the final of the four-team tournament.
Related coverage:
Football: Miyazawa, Hamano back for Japan at SheBelieves Cup
Football: Unpolished Nadeshiko Japan pick up steam toward Paris
Football: Nadeshiko Japan beat North Korea 2-1 to reach Paris Olympics
