Japan scores late to tie U.S. in Algarve Cup group play
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PARCHAL, Portugal -- Aya Miyama scored with a 35-yard free kick in the 83rd minute to give Japan a 1-1 draw with defending champion United States on Wednesday in their opening Group B match of the Algarve Cup women’s soccer tournament.
Sydney Leroux scored in the 59th minute for the U.S., which extended its unbeaten streak to 43 games since a March 2012 loss to Japan at the Algarve Cup.
Carli Lloyd put the ball into the net with a volley in only 72 seconds after Leroux’s shot hit a defender and bounced to her, but the goal was disallowed because Lloyd was ruled offisde.
Miyama scored with a powerful shot that goalkeeper Hope Solo knocked into an upper corner with a diving parry.
The U.S. plays Sweden and former America coach Pia Sundhage on Friday and closes the first round against Denmark on Monday. Sweden beat Denmark, 2-0, and leads Group B.
In Group A, Germany beat Iceland, 5-0, and China edged Norway ,1-0. In Group C, whose teams cannot reach the final, Portugal beat Austria, 3-2, and North Korea won, 2-1, against Russia.
