It took 31 seconds for Saturday's 2024 SheBelieves Cup opener in Atlanta to look as if it could become a complete disaster for the U.S women's national team.
The U.S. back line was caught high, near midfield, and Japan midfielder Kiko Seike flew down her team's right side, in behind, and neatly tucked the ball inside the far post to score. The USWNT had not conceded a goal that early in a match in 21 years.
Then, however, the rest of the match played out as if that opening sequence from Japan had never happened.