Japan scored the biggest upset in the opening matches at the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Finals on 30 October, coming from behind to deservedly down the heavily favoured USA combination 3-2 at Waikato Stadium. Young Nadeshiko fired their first warning shot in the first minute of play, Chiaki Shimada's slide-rule pass allowing Akane Saito to scythe in off the left and rattle the side-netting. The USA responded straight away, Sam Mewis' low drive being pawed away by Japanese goalkeeper Saki Nakamura, with Sam's sister, Kristie Mewis, arriving just too late to capitalise on the rebound. The Americans didn't have long to wait to make the early breakthrough they coveted. Captain Cloee Colohan launched a long throw into the goalmouth in the third minute, and Japan's defenders allowed it to bounce. Nakamura's hesitancy counted against her, and Vicki DiMartino gleefully bundled the ball home. Japan were initially rocked by this setback, and the USA sought to capitalise on their rivals' despondency. Mandy Laddish and Courtney Verloo combined to allow Sam Mewis to whip in a seventh minute cross which floated just beyond DiMartino as she arrived on the far post. Kristie Mewis then lashed a twenty-yarder at Nakamura before Japan recovered their poise and simply took charge of the game, the brilliant Mana Iwabuchi their principle orchestrator. Her vision, range of passing, intelligent movement on and off the ball, and sheer subtlety - on a few occasions, Americans were sold on her clever dummies - were a joy to behold. Nadeshiko need have no concerns when the legendary Homare Sawa hangs up her boots, as in their fifteen-year-old midfield maestro, they already have a natural successor. In the twelfth minute, Saito showed some delightful skill on the left flank before whipping in a low cross. Chinatsu Kira played it back to Shimada, who unleashed a ferocious thirty yarder which crashed against the crossbar. The USA scrambled this away, but within seconds, were under the cosh again. Yuko Takeyama's hanging cross found Iwabuchi in between defenders, and she guided her deft flick just past the far post. The playmaker was central to a delicious one-two with Kira five minutes later, but the latter's drive lacked the power to test USA goalkeeper Taylor Vancil, who was found wanting by a rasping Shimada free-kick in the 23rd minute. Colohan scrambled the danger to safety. Japan were playing some delightful football as a terrific tussle unfolded, and their efforts were well

worthy of parity at least. Saito sent another effort skidding past the post in the 26th minute, while two minutes later, Iwabuchi cleverly outfoxed three opponents before crossing to the far post, where Saito volleyed wide - a great chance. Justice was finally served in the 32nd minute, when Young Nadeshiko deservedly drew level. Another thunderous thirty yarder from Shimada crashed against the crossbar, and this time, Iwabuchi was on hand to sweep home the rebound. Two minutes later, a superb piece of skill from Kira saw her turn past two defenders before thrashing a shot across the face of goal and just past the far post. The same player was then forced, under pressure from the fast-closing Vancil, to lob the ball over the bar from eight yards, following further good work by Saito. Seconds later, Japan produced a scintillating move which richly deserved better fate. Captain Natsuki Kishikawa played the ball to Iwabuchi, from whom the ball sped via Minori Chiba and Kira to Yuiko Inoue. Vancil blocked bravely at her feet, but the rebound fell perfectly into the stride of Natsumi Kameoka, who rattled the crossbar from fifteen yards - the third time Japan had struck the woodwork in thirty minutes! The Japanese were all over their much-vaunted rivals like the proverbial rash! The USA were hardly getting a sniff as an attacking force, indeed managing just one shot on goal before the interval - a glove-warming effort from Verloo which Nakamura grabbed on the stroke of half-time. Whatever Team USA coach Kazbek Tambi said to his young charges at half-time saw them emerge with new-found self-belief - the Americans were every bit as riveting to watch in the second half as the Japanese had been in the first. Kristie Mewis' 47th minute free-kick was fumbled by Nakamura, who recovered before DiMartino could pounce. But Japan's goalkeeper was horribly at fault for the USA's second goal, six minutes later. Sam Mewis raided down the left before picking out her sister some twenty-five yards out from goal. Kristie Mewis promptly let fly, and the sight of Nakamura stumbling and bumbling at ground level as the ball sailed over her is one she won't be keeping on her career highlights DVD, of that you can be certain. The `keeper made amends somewhat in the 55th minute, turning DiMartino's angled drive round the post. Japan responded with an attack of their own two minutes later, Kira and Iwabuchi linking with Shimada to set up a chance for Inoue. Vancil parried then smothered the effort, then

launched a counter-attack which culminated in DiMartino rattling the advertising hoardings with her drive. After Kristie Mewis sent a twenty yarder sailing high, wide and far from handsomely over the target, a brave save at the feet of Verloo by Nakamura foiled a 64th minute raid which gave Young Nadeshiko renewed impetus. Did it ever! Within ten minutes, Japan had not only equalised but taken the lead! In the 68th minute, out of nothing, Kameoka rattled home a 35-yarder to level the scores - 2-2. Six minutes later, Japan attacked again through Kozue Chiba, whose angled cross was headed down by Saito to substitute Kei Yoshioka, who had been introduced to the fray straight after the equaliser. From the edge of the penalty area she unleashed an unerring strike into the top right-hand corner of Vancil's goal - 3-2 Japan, and a grandstand finish in store. Both teams went for it hammer and tongs. Takeyama played the ball into Yoshioka, who evaded a couple of challenges before shooting through the legs of Amber Brooks but just past the far post in the 78th minute. Two minutes later, Verloo and Sam Mewis linked on the right, with the latter turning sharply on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a fierce drive which was tipped onto the inside of the far post by Nakamura. Japan scrambled the ball to safety, but the USA kept on coming in their pursuit of an equaliser. Julia Roberts played a free-kick short to Kristie Mewis, whose whipped cross was pawed out by Nakamura as Verloo rose to head home. Back came Young Nadeshiko, Vancil forced to grab a cross-shot from Kira and a shot on the run from substitute Yoko Tanaka before the USA mounted a final onslaught as they sought to avert a shock defeat. Kristie Mewis let fly from thirty yards in stoppage time, but Nakamura grabbed it to ensure Japan grabbed all three points from the opening Group C encounter, by clinching a win which will be one of the major talking points of these Finals long after they have concluded. Japan:          Nakamura; K. Chiba, M. Chiba, Kishikawa, Takeyama; Inoue (Yoshioka, 68), Kameoka, Shimada (Tanaka, 59), Saito; Kira (Hamada, 90), Iwabuchi (booked, 90) USA:          Vancil; Brooks, Colohan, Quon (booked, 70); Tymrak (Eddy, 33), Laddish (Klei, 53), Roberts, S. Mewis (Johnson, 87), K. Mewis; DiMartino, Verloo Referee:     Thalia Mitsi (Greece)