On Sunday 11 April, the Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) played in an international friendly match against the Panama Women's National Team, where SUGASAWA Yuika (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies) scored a hat-trick to propel the team to a 7-0 victory.

Following their 7-0 victory over the Paraguay Women’s National Team on Thursday, the Nadeshiko Japan made five changes to their starting line-up, as TAKAHASHI Hana (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies) made her first start for the senior side. Players currently playing abroad, HASEGAWA Yui (AC Milan/Italy) and MOMIKI Yuka (OL Reign/USA), also featured the line-up in the first national team match ever played at the new Japan National Stadium.

The match started with Japan taking the initiative through their aggressive approach. In the sixth minute, Momiki struck a powerful shot that ricocheted off the cross bar, which was followed up by IWABUCHI Mana (Aston Villa/England), but her shot sailed over the goal frame. Two minutes later, this time Iwabuchi’s shot took a deflection, allowing Sugasawa to convert the loose ball to score the opening goal. The second goal came in the 16th minute, when the ball was connected through HAYASHI Honoka (AIK Fotboll) and Sugasawa, before finding SHIMIZU Risa (Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza) who broke into the penalty box and fired a powerful shot that pierced the net. For Shimizu, this was her first national team goal. .....

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