USA 2-1 Japan: Lindsey Horan penalty sends hosts into SheBelieves Cup final

USA's Lindsey Horan scores a penalty against Japan — Lindsey Horan, 29, has now scored 35 goals from 145 internationals

Lindsey Horan converted a 77th-minute penalty to give the United States a 2-1 win over Japan and send them into the final of the SheBelieves Cup.

The game in Atlanta drew a crowd of 50,644 – the largest for the USA women’s team on home soil since they won the 1999 World Cup final.

Kiko Seike gave Japan the lead after just 30 seconds but Jaedyn Shaw equalised on 21 minutes.

The hosts will face Brazil or Canada in Tuesday’s final in Columbus.

The four-team invitational tournament consists of four games, with the semi-finals played in a double-header at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Twila Kilgore, the interim head coach until current Chelsea boss Emma Hayes takes over in June, left Korbin Albert out of the US starting line-up following a controversy about social media posts from the Paris St-Germain midfielder.

The 20-year-old came on as a 78th-minute substitute.

Albert has apologised for sharing content, including a religious video about transgender and LGBTQ issues. That social media activity appeared to be heavily criticised by World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe.

The retired former US captain, known for her activism, did not mention Albert by name but expressed concern that such content was contributing to “hate” against the LGBTQ community.

Seike gave Japan a shock lead on Saturday against the American hosts who deservedly drew level as Sam Coffey set up Shaw to fire a fifth goal in her last five games for the national team.

Horan later converted from the spot after Sophia Smith was fouled by Hina Sugita.

“The ability to come back and keep that level of confidence that we have and the style of play that we are playing, [the USA] deserve a lot of credit,” said Kilgore.