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The US Women’s National Team (WNT) had their 8-game win streak snapped by rival Japan on Monday after losing in the Algarve Cup Group B first place match by a 1-0 margin.
Megumi Takase scored a late game goal during the 86th minute of play to secure Japan a spot in the final. The US WNT will play for third place against Sweden on March 7th.
Japan managed to finish first without the services of their FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year Homare Sawa, who was battling a right calf strain and saw limited playing time.
The US WNT went into the match boasting a stellar record in the annual tourney in Portugal, having won the cup in 7 of the last 10 years and finishing as the runner up in 2006 and 2009.
The US and Japan have faced each other 26 times, with the US coming out on top with a 22-1-4 record overall and outscoring Japan from 1986 to 2000 by a 54-5 margin. Currently, the FIFA ranks the US No. 1 and Japan 3rd in the world.
Monday was the first meeting between the squads since Japan defeated the US via penalty kicks in an overtime stunner at the 2011 World Cup. They are scheduled to play each other again in an international friendly on April 1, 2012 at 6:30am EST. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN3.
