England Defeats Japan 1-0 on Second Match Day of 2020 SheBelieves Cup

HARRISON, N.J. (March 8, 2020) – England defeated Japan, 1-0, in the first game of the second doubleheader in the 2020 SheBelieves Cup as star forward Ellen White scored in the 83^rd minute after coming into the match in the 69^th minute.

 

The England goal came from pressure in the attacking third as 60^th minute substitute Toni Duggan won a ball from Japan, got a step on the defender and chipped a short cross into the center to White, who volleyed home from eight yards out for her 36^th international goal.

 

England had the better of the chances in the game and were unfortunate not to bag a goal or two in the first half. Japan goalkeeper Sakiko Ikeda came up huge three times before the break to deny England a goal.

 

Forward Lauren Hemp got behind the Japan defense in just the 3^rd minute and raced into the left side of the box, but Ikeda cut down the angle and with a dive, pushed the shot outside the left post.

 

Ikeda came up big again the 13^th minute, denying Beth England on a point-blank opportunity in the right side of the penalty area. It was England vs. Ikeda again in the 32^nd minute, this time from just outside the six-yard box, but once again the Japan ‘keeper won the battle with a point blank save.

 

Japan had few shots from distance in the first half but in the 38^th minute, Mina Tanaka got a step behind the England defense on the right side. She was run down by defender Millie Bright inside the penalty and her contested shot was tipped wide by England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.

 

Each team had 10 shots, but England put six on goal to Japan’s three.

 

The match was the opening game of the doubleheader with the second match featuring the United States vs. Spain.

 

The SheBelieves Cup finishes Wednesday, March 11 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas England faces Spain (4:15 p.m. CT on ESPN3) followed by the USA vs. Japan (7 p.m. CT on ESPNews and TUDN Extra 1).

 

 

- SHEBELIEVES CUP MATCH REPORT -

 

Match: Japan Women’s National Team vs. England

Date: March 8, 2020

Competition: SheBelieves Cup

Venue: Red Bull Arena; Harrison, NJ

Attendance: 14,758

Kickoff:  2:15 p.m. ET

Weather:  57 degrees, Sunny

 

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F

JPN                             0          0          0

ENG                            0          1          1

 

ENG - Ellen White (Toni Duggan)      83^rd minute

 

Lineups:
JPN:1-Sakiko Ikeda; 2-Risa Shimizu (19-Jun Enda, 45), 22-Mayo Doko, 16-Asato Miyagawa, 3-Shiori Miyake; 17-Narumi Miura, 6-Hina Sugita, 8-Mana Iwabuchi (11-Riko Ueki, 66), 7-Emi Nakajima (Capt.); 10-Yuka Momiki, 15-Mina Tanaka (23-Mami Ueno, 76)

Substitutes not used: 4-Saki Kumagai, 5-Moeka Minami, 9-Yuika Sugasawa,12-Hikaru Naomoto, 13-Mayu Ikejiri, 14-Yui Hasegawa, 18-Ayaka Yamashita, 20-Arisa Matsubara, 21-Chika Hirao

Head coach: Asako Takakura

 

ENG: 13-Ellie Roebuck; 2-Rachel Daly, 5-Steph Houghton (Capt.), 6-Millie Bright, 12-Demi Stokes; 4-Keira Walsh (14-Leah Williamson, 60), 22-Chloe Kelly (7-Nikita Parris, 60), 10-Jordan Nobbs (8-Jill Scott, 90 +2), 16-Georgia Stanway (17-Lucy Staniforth, 69), 20-Lauren Hemp (11-Toni Duggan, 60); 9-Bethany England (18-Ellen White, 69)

Substitutes not used: 1-Carly Telford, 3-Alex Greenwood, ,15-Abbie McManus, 19-Alessia Russo, 21-Alexandria MacIver, 23-Grace Fisk

Head coach: Phil Neville

 

Stats Summary: JPN / ENG

Shots: 10 / 10

Shots on Goal: 3 / 6

Saves: 5 / 3

Corner Kicks: 5 / 2

Fouls: 6 / 11

Offside: 2 / 6

 

Misconduct Summary:

ENG - Chloe Kelly (Caution)              54^th minute

JPN - Emi Nakajima (Caution)           54

JPN - Hina Sugita (Caution)               62

 

Officials: 

Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)

Assistant Referee 1: Brooke Mayo (USA)

Assistant Referee 2: Felisha Mariscal (USA)

4th Official: Danielle Chesky (USA)