Mallory Swanson continued her goal streak with a first-half score to help the U.S. women’s national team to a 1-0 victory against Japan in the second match of the SheBelieves Cup on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn.
Swanson scored in the 45th minute, and Casey Murphy stopped a close-range shot by Yui Hasegawa in the 81st minute and Jun Endo at the near post in the third minute of added time as the Americans recorded their fourth consecutive shutout this year.
The U.S. is in position to clinch its sixth championship in the eight years of the three-team, round-robin event. The Americans won it in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022. France was victorious in 2017 while England captured the title two years later.
Brazil, which defeated Japan it its opener, played Canada in the second game of the doubleheader later Sunday, needing a victory to tie the U.S. at six points.
On Wednesday in Frisco, Texas, Canada plays Japan in the first game followed by the U.S. vs. Brazil.
Swanson set a career high by scoring in her fifth straight match and has six goals in four matches in 2023.
Added to her two goals in a 2-0 victory over Canada on Thursday, she is tied with teammate Megan Rapinoe for the most goals in tournament history (seven).
After a dominating victory over the Canadians, the U.S. struggled to break down the organized Japanese defense until Alex Morgan and Swanson worked their magic just before the break.
Morgan controlled an outlet pass in the center circle, turned and placed a leading pass to Swanson streaking down the middle. Swanson took two touches to separate herself from defender Shiori Miyake, leaving only goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita to beat, which she did with a shot to the lower left corner from 10 yards.
Swanson has 31 goals in 86 international matches, including 13 in 19 matches since the start of 2022.
Japan led in shot attempts, 15-5, with each team having two on goal.
–Field Level Media