Rose Lavelle marked her 100th international appearance with the opening goal in the USA's 2-1 friendly win over Japan
Thearon W. HendersonRose Lavelle celebrated her 100th international cap with a goal and set up another as the United States beat Japan 2-1 in the first of two friendlies between the two women’s international football powerhouses on Saturday.
Gotham FC midfielder Lavelle, Â the reigning US Female Player of the Year, opened the scoring after just nine minutes at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, after hooking in a lobbed cross from Trinity Rodman.
The 30-year-old attacker, one of the stars of the USA’s last FIFA Women’s World Cup victory in 2019, also played a key  role in the home side’s second goal just after half-time.
A sweeping counter-attack ended with Lavelle steering a pass into the path of midfielder Lindsey Heaps who duly tucked away a low finish into the corner past Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
Japan, who clinched their third Women’s Asian Cup title last month with a victory over Australia, rallied later in the half and pulled a goal back through substitute striker Riko Ueki in the 61st minute.
But despite a flurry of chances from the Japanese, the US defence held firm to clinch victory -- the 2024 Olympic gold medallists' 10th consecutive win under English manager Emma Hayes as they build towards next year's World Cup in Brazil.
The two teams will meet again in a second friendly in Seattle on Tuesday.
rcw/bb
Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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