Soccer: U.S. women beat Japan, 4-1 | The Salt Lake Tribune

Women's soccer • Americans dominate vs. World Cup champs.

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Halmstad, Sweden • Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan each scored twice to give the United States a 4-1 win over Japan in its penultimate tuneup for the Olympics.

Morgan put the U.S. ahead in the third minute and Wambach made it 2-0 in the 10th in the third rematch of 2011 World Cup finalists this year. The Americans beat Sweden 3-1 on Saturday in a three-team set of exhibitions called the Volvo Winners Cup. Japan plays Sweden on Wednesday.

"Abby had a great game, Alex Morgan had a great game as well, and so did the midfield. We changed the wing players a little bit and we dominated the midfield which is a hard thing to do against Japan, who keeps the ball all the time," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. "I think they were dangerous, but we also controlled the game for the most part and in the defense as well. The back four did a great job with the six up front."

The United States next plays June 30 against Canada at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy before going to London.

Yuki Nagasato got a goal back for Japan in the 28th minute on a diving header to finish Aya Miyama's pinpoint cross.

Morgan got her second in the 61st minute and Wambach nodded home the last goal in the second minute of stoppage time.

The Americans outshot Japan 11-2 in shots on target, forcing seven saves from goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori. —

U.S. women vs. Canada

P June 30, noon• Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy