Momoko Tanikawa hit an early screamer and Mina Tanaka grabbed another brace as Japan brushed aside Colombia 4-1 for their second straight win at the SheBelieves Cup on Sunday.

After beating Australia 4-0 in their opener on Thursday, Nadeshiko Japan hit four again for another comfortable win under new manager Nils Nielsen as they set up a title decider against the tournament hosts the United States, who also have two wins, in their last game on Wednesday.

Nineteen-year-old Tanikawa got Japan on the scoresheet within the opening 18 seconds at State Farm Stadium in Glendale as the Bayern Munich midfielder found the top right corner with a sublime left-footed strike from 25 meters out.

“I was told I can go for the goal before the game, so I took it positively and went for it,” she said.

Japan’s Mina Tanaka scores a penalty for her second goal in a SheBelieves Cup match against Colombia at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 23, 2025. (Kyodo)

Utah Royals forward Tanaka headed in Tanikawa’s corner in the eighth minute, while Colombia pulled one back in first-half stoppage time as Linda Caicedo found the far bottom corner following a swift attack down the left.

Tanaka set up Maika Hamano to restore Japan’s two-goal cushion in the 57th minute when the Chelsea attacker buried a low strike from inside the box and completed the scoring in the 79th minute by putting away a penalty that she won.

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