- Associated Press - Wednesday, March 5, 2014

PARCHAL, Portugal (AP) - Aya Miyama scored from a 35-yard free kick in the 83rd minute to give Japan a 1-1 draw with defending champion the United States on Wednesday in their opening Group B match of the Algarve Cup women’s football tournament.

Sydney Leroux scored in the 59th minute for the U.S., which extended its unbeaten streak to 43 games since a March 2012 loss to Japan at the Algarve Cup.

Carli Lloyd put the ball into the net with a volley just 72 seconds in after Leroux’s shot hit a defender and bounced to her, but the goal was disallowed because Lloyd was ruled offisde.

Miyama scored with a powerful shot that goalkeeper Hope Solo knocked into an upper corner with a diving parry.

The U.S. plays Sweden and former America coach Pia Sundhage on Friday and closes the first round against Denmark on Monday. Sweden beat Denmark 2-0 and leads Group B.

In Group A, Germany beat Iceland 5-0, and China edged Norway 1-0. In Group C, whose teams cannot reach the final, Portugal beat Austria 3-2, and North Korea won 2-1 against Russia.

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