Nadeshiko Japan failed to avenge their loss to the United States in the 2012 London Olympic gold medal match, but did manage to draw the world's top women's team 1-1 in their Algarve Cup opener on Wednesday.
In a match that saw World Cup champion and world No. 3 Japan outplayed for the majority of the time, Nadeshiko captain Aya Miyama equalized in the 82nd minute from a 30-meter free kick at Belevista Municipal Stadium.
Although the Americans, under former Sanfrecce Hiroshima coach Tom Sermanni, created the bulk of the chances, it was not until the 58th minute that forward Sydney Leroux opened the scoring due to a lapse by Japan 'keeper Erina Yamane.