Japan’s tour of the United States ended in disappointment on Tuesday (Wednesday morning in Japan), as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against the USA.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu made 11 changes from the weekend’s 0-0 draw with Mexico, and that naturally produced a little unfamiliarity in the early exchanges at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.
The USA almost opened the scoring in the 18th minute, after Japan surrendered possession cheaply in their own half.
Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic capitalised and exchanged passes in the Japan penalty area, but Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Hayato Araki blocked Balogun’s initial shot and Araki’s Hiroshima teammate, goalkeeper Keisuke Osako, saved his second attempt and a follow-up header from Alejandro Zendejas.
Three minutes later Japan went close to finding the net themselves.
Tokyo Verdy youth product Joel Chima Fujita played FC TOKYO’s Yuto Nagatomo into space on the left flank, and he sent an in-swinging cross to the far post that Henry Heroki Mochizuki rose highest to meet. Although the FC Machida Zelvia wing-back made a good connection with his header, it was well saved by USA goalkeeper Matt Freese.
The USA then moved in front after half an hour, as Zendejas lashed a terrific volley past Osako after Maximilian Arfsten had shown some great footwork out wide and whipped a tantalising ball into the box.
Japan responded well and could have drawn level in the 36th minute, but ex-Kashiwa Reysol forward Junya Ito saw his close-range attempt repelled by Freese.
Things went from bad to worse for Japan in the 64th minute, as Pulisic and Balogun combined again - the former stabbing a ball in behind and the latter making no mistake with a left-footed strike from a tight angle to make it 2-0.
Former Yokohama FC striker Koki Ogawa nearly pulled one back for Japan six minutes later, but his fierce hit from 30 yards smacked against the angle of post and bar.
The hosts had the better of things in the closing stages and could have added to the score in the 78th minute, but Osako made a sensational save to deny substitute Jack McGlynn’s curling effort from just outside the area.
McGlynn did beat Osako five minutes later, but his thunderous shot from a similar distance cannoned down off the crossbar before being cleared to safety, and Osako was called into action once more before full-time, staying big to deny Damion Downs as he bore down on goal.
Japan were unable to create any more chances at the other end of the pitch, leaving them with plenty to reflect on ahead of next month’s games against Paraguay in Osaka and Brazil in Tokyo.
