Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup title game.
The Americans had not lost since last February when they fell 2-0 to Mexico in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. The loss also snapped the U.S. team’s string of five titles in the SheBelieves Cup, now in its 10th year.
The United States and Japan were both undefeated in the tournament heading into the final match at Snapdragon Stadium.
