Rose Lavelle’s goal and assist help USWNT hold off Japan

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Rose Lavelle #16 of United States celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the international friendly match between United States and Japan at PayPal Park on April 11, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The United States Women’s National Team, behind goals by Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Heaps, defeated Japan 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at PayPal Park in San Jose. The USWNT got two goals before a Riko Ueki goal gave Japan hope in the second half.

The match started with both teams feeling the game out as they attempted to establish a tempo. With the USWNT ranked 2nd and Japan ranked 5th in the FIFA rankings, both teams wanted to try and establish control. In the ninth minute, the United States broke through first.

Off a Sam Coffey free kick 30 yards from goal, Trinity Rodman got on the end of the high arcing cross and flicked the ball back towards the middle of the box. Rose Lavelle, who made her 100th career USWNT start, got a volley on it with the side of her foot and it deflected off a Japanese defender into the back of the net to give the USWNT a 1-0 lead.

The game started to open up a bit, with Japan seeking to find an equalizer. In the 15th minute, they had an opportunity as Hinata Miyazawa took a shot from the center of the box towards the bottom left corner of the net. However, Claudia Dickey was able to make the save to keep it 1-0 to the United States.

The USWNT had another chance in the 21st minute where some crisp passing led to Sophia Wilson getting some space inside the box. She sent a shot that turned into a cross across the frame of goal, but Alyssa Thompson’s attempted finish from the left side went high and wide of the goal.

Both teams were trying to get behind the opposing defense to challenge the net, but their opportunities were broken up. Still, while the match seemed to have some open moments after Lavelle’s goal, neither team were able to score in the first 30 minutes.

The USWNT continued to apply high pressure to the Japanese defense to try and force a mistake, but the Nadeshiko were able to evade it. The game started to get bogged down. In the 40th minute, Manaka Matsukubo was played a beautiful long ball from Moeka Minami that got her behind the American defense with a dangerous break on goal. Gisele Thompson was able to recover and perform a great tackle on the ball to end the effort and send the ball the other way. Both teams weren’t able to get anything else going before the whistle sounded for halftime.

It didn’t take long for the USWNT to strike again after the start of the second half. Just a little over 2 minutes in, Rose got a ball on the left side of the penalty area. She passed it across goal, but the cross was blocked by Japan. The ball bounced to a streaking Alyssa Thompson, whose shot was immediately blocked. The ball bounced back towards Lavelle, who made another pass to the center of the box. This time, Lindsey Heaps tucked it into the left side of the net to extend the USWNT lead to 2-0. It was the 40th international goal for Heaps.

This felt like a deflating goal for the Nadeshiko, as the USWNT continued applying pressure in the attacking third.

In the 61st minute, Japan got one back. Finally, the Japanese pressure paid off. Substitute Riko Ueki was able to catch a headed pass from Honoka Hayashi behind the American defense, with Giselle Thompson keeping her just onside. Ueki headed the ball past Claudia Dickey to cut the U.S. lead to 2-1. It was the first goal that the USWNT had conceded since a 3-1 win over Portugal in October.

The USWNT immediately tried to get one back, with Sophia Wilson getting a shot near post on Ayaka Yamashita from a tight angle on the left. Yamashita was able to save the ball out of play to keep it 2-1 to the United States.

The match continued, and while both teams continued to push, there weren’t any breakthroughs. The USWNT tried to hold on to secure the win by maintaining possession. Riko Ueki had another opportunity in the 70th minute with a header off a Yui Hasegawa corner, but she missed to the right of the net. In the 79th minute, yet another corner turned into an opportunity for Japan to equalize. Ueki’s shot in the middle of the box off the pass from Honoka Hayashi was saved by Dickey to preserve the U.S. lead.

There were a few more chances for Japan to equalize, but the USWNT were able to keep them out of the net. The whistle blew after four minutes of stoppage time to end the match, and the United States left San Jose with the 2-1 win.

The USWNT and Japan head to Seattle next, where they will play their second match of the window at Lumen Field on Tuesday night.