On Sunday 10 June, NADESHIKO Japan (Japan Women's National Team) faced the New Zealand Women's National Team in an international friendly match at Wellington, New Zealand. The team was welcomed with stormy weather since their arrival in New Zealand, limiting their training time ahead of the match. However, the match day brought clear weather, without the usual strong wind of Wellington.

With just one year left ahead of the World Cup, Coach TAKAKURA Asako elected to play a 4-2-3-1 formation for this match against New Zealand. The team fired numbers of shots from the early minutes as HASEGAWA Yui, NAKASATO Yu, and NAKAJIMA Emi made their efforts to threaten the New Zealand goal.

Japan kept their momentum, which led to the opening goal on the 17th minute. Assisted by Nakasato’s pass, TANAKA Mina lobbed the ball over the head of the opposing goalkeeper, giving her side a one goal lead. However, just a minute later, New Zealand’s Meikayla Moore delivered the equaliser from a corner kick to level the match......

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