Mallory Swanson needed only five touches to write the overriding story of the U.S. women's national team's Sunday showdown with Japan.
It was the only goal of the USWNT's fifth straight victory, and its second of the SheBelieves Cup, a preparatory tournament that it is now in position to win. And on the surface, all is well. The World Cup is five months away, and the most successful program in international women's soccer is doing what it always does, seemingly kicking into gear.— and if not for Swanson, Sunday's performance would have amplified them.
It all reeked of the same old issues that have plagued the USWNT under Vlatko Andonovski — until, in the 45th minute, Swanson swooped in to save the day. But the Americans were incredibly fortunate to keep a clean sheet. They never once had control of the match. Japan faltered in front of goal, as the former Asian champs have all too often recently, but there are European powers who won't. There are foes whom the U.S. will meet this summer Down Under who will blend Japan's tactical and technical ability with superior physicality and ruthlessness — and the U.S., on current evidence, will struggle to cope.
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