BREMEN, Germany – Momoko Tanikawa’s opener proved fruitless as Japan fell 2-1 to Germany in a women’s international friendly on Tuesday.
World No. 5 Nadeshiko Japan were edged by Germany at Weserstadion in Bremen where all the goals were scored by Bayern Munich players, with their head-to-head record against their third-ranked opponents dropping to one win, 12 losses and two draws.
Japan finished their two friendlies in Europe with one win and a loss, having battered Haiti 5-1 on Friday in France.
Tanikawa gave the visitors the lead in the 14th minute when the attacker received Aoba Fujino’s pass into the box with her left foot, took two defenders out with the next touch with her right before firing past Germany keeper Ena Mahmutovic.
But Germany drew level in the 28th minute when their attack down the left released Klara Buhl, who pulled the ball back for an unmarked Linda Dallmann to score high into the net beyond diving Japan keeper Ayaka Yamashita.
Yamashita’s misplaced distribution from the back led to the hosts’ 73rd-minute winner, as Melissa Koessler found Buhl to her left in a quick break before the forward found the right bottom corner through the legs of a defender.
