Alex Morgan snatched a second-half equalizer to deny women's world champion Japan another ego-boosting win over the United States in a 1-1 draw in the opening game of the three-nation Kirin Challenge Cup exhibition tournament on Sunday.
Defender Yukari Kinga prodded Japan into a first-half lead on a bitterly cold night in Sendai, but Morgan struck 18 minutes from time to secure the Olympic champion a share of the spoils.
Japan was coming off back-to-back wins over the U.S., having followed up a stunning 3-1 penalty shootout victory in last year's World Cup final with a 1-0 win at the Algarve Cup in Portugal in March.