Gregg Berhalter's USMNT team fell to a 2-0 defeat by Japan in their first
World Cup warm-up game Friday.

The United States were lackluster and second best throughout the friendly in Germany as they
geared up for Qatar in two months' time. 

Daichi Kamada broke the deadlock with a fine first-time finish in the
24th minute and Kaoru Mitoma sealed a comfortable victory with a late goal. 

Japan substitute Kaoru Mitoma rounded off a comfortable win for
his side in the 88th minute

Mitoma celebrates after scoring Japan's second goal against the USA in Germany
on Friday

Japan celebrate Daichi Kamada's opening goal against the United States in friendly game

Kamada celebrates after scoring past Matt Turner with
a fine first-touch finish in the first half

Kamada looks over to the offside flag after it
was put up but VAR overturned call and gave goal

Kamada is surrounded by his teammates after breaking the deadlock against USMNT Friday

USA's star man and captain Christian Pulisic did not
dress because of an unspecified injury and
his absence was felt.

The US Soccer Federation said Pulisic was out 'because of a knock he took in training earlier this week.' 

The USSF said it was too soon to determine whether he will be available for Tuesday's friendly against Saudi Arabia in Murcia, Spain.

Berhalter's side was short of ideas in attack and made multiple errors
at the back in what was a difficult test.

USA star Weston McKennie battles for the ball in what was a difficult
first period for his team

Japan dominated the first half and took the lead through Kamada
with the attacker coolly finishing past USA and Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner.

Kamada was judged to be offside by the linesman but the goal was given following intervention by VAR.
He was denied by Turner in the 13th minute before giving the Samurai Blue the lead 11 minutes later when he calmly slotted home after Hidemasa Morita's lay-off.

Things improved slightly for USA in the second half as they enjoyed
more possession but they struggled to do anything meaningful
with the ball and conceded another late on. 

Japan substitute Mitoma added its second after some good individual play down the left flank and then bent a right-footed shot past Turner and into the bottom right corner. 

USMNT defender Sergino Dest dribbles with the ball during opening
exchanges in Germany

Turner ensured the United States were not on the end of a heavier defeat with a string of fine saves in the second half.

The 28-year-old kept out a 55th minute effort from
Junya Ito before denying Kamada a second of
the game 10 minutes later. He then tipped substitute
winger Ritsu Doan's shot over the bar.

But there was nothing Turner could do to prevent Mitoma from adding Japan's second in the 88th minute.

Kate McGreavy
Host commentator

15:17

FULL-TIME: Japan 2-0 USA

That's it! A display that USMNT will want to forget as soon as possible.
Japan looked a step above and went through the motions in the second
half after taking the lead in the first half.

USA did miss Pulisic but the lack of ideas going forward and regularity of errors at the back are worrying.

15:14

Japan 2-0 USA

87min: And there we go! Japan has its second. Substitute Kaoru Mitoma, who plays in the Premier League with Brighton, cuts in from the left, beats Cannon easily and
unleashes a precise right-footed shot round Turner and into the bottom right corner.

He made it look simple.

15:11

84min: USMNT has had more possession in this half than the first but it has still looked
lackluster and short of ideas. Japan has been comfortable and looks more threatening on the counter.

15:07

80min: Aaronson provides the spark that USA has been missing.
It's the two Leeds stars that link up as Tyler Adams
does well in the middle of the park to break
the line and plays in Aaronson.

He has time and space to turn and run at the Japan defense and his
quick feet gets him a sight at goal. It's clear he's
trying to curl the ball into the top right corner, round the defender but he doesn't quite get enough whip on it and it goes
past the post. But that was more like it.

15:03

76min: Once again USA causes problems for itself by losing the ball close to its own goal.
This time Japan waste the opportunity and the back four deals with the attack.
But at the World Cup such mistakes could prove costly,
very costly indeed.

15:00

73min: Christian Pulisic's spark and pace is certainly missed by
USA. The team will be desperate to have him back for next week's game.

14:56

70min: Japan's Ritsu Doan is the next player to try his luck but this time
there are enough bodies between him and the goal for USMNT
to block the danger.

14:52

67min: Berhalter reacts by bringing on Tillman and
Cardoso off the bench to replace McKennie and De la Torre respectively.

14:51

65min: Just like that Turner is needed to make a save again. Japan break and a shot is
fired at goal from just inside the left-hand side of the box.

Turner gets down smartly to his left to tip it away for a corner.

14:49

62min: Japan seems content with allowing USA to have the ball.

Berhalter's team does at least have possession but there's nothing meaningful
about their play in the final third at the moment.

14:46

58min: USMNT is starting to show more intent and Sargent has looked lively.
Luca de la Torre gets a yellow card for being over zealous.

14:40

55min: The worrying thing for Berhalter is how easy Japan seems
to breakthrough on goal. USMNT has enjoyed more of the ball this half but they're undone simply and Junya Ito tests
Turner with a fierce drive. The Arsenal goalkeeper beats the ball away
from danger.

14:38

52min: Aaronson is finding himself on the receiving end of
some heavy challenges. He was fouled a few times in the first half and his trickery is leading to him ending up
on the deck.

14:35

48min: Subdued start to this half after Berhalter made four
changes. Dest, Long, Ferreira and Reyna came off with Cannon, McKenzie, Morris and Sargent on in their places.

14:30

Second half starts

Here we go for the second period. USMNT lost the ball a staggering 54 times in the first half...

14:14

HALF-TIME: Japan 1-0 USA

Japan heads into the break one goal to the good and it is deserving of that lead.

USA has not really got going and can only improve in the second period.

14:12

45min: Two minutes of stoppage time added on at the end of this first half, largely due to the delay in VAR checking the validity of
Kamada's opener in the 24th minute.

14:12

44min: USMNT finally works the ball to create an overload down the left with Aaronson playing a nice ball out to that flank.

Sam Vines turns on the gas and then puts in a cross into a dangerous area.

Ferreira is the target but Japan deal with the threat.

That's more like it from Berhalter's team.

14:08

41min: Aaronson is fouled high up the pitch, giving USA the chance to get the ball into the box.
The delivery comes to nothing as Japan clears its lines.

14:06

38min: USA is seeing more of the ball as the game begins to fizzle out before half-time.
Japan is comfortable and well-organized out of possession. Makes you wonder
what Berhalter has up his sleeve at the break.

14:02

34min: USA is struggling to get the ball to their frontmen while it continues to live dangerously at the back.

13:58

31min: USA gives the ball away twice in areas close to its
own goal. Japan is full of confidence and getting joy from
a high press. USMNT needs to enjoy some possession for a bit.

13:55

28min: The goal had been coming and USMNT had been warned.
Maybe that will trigger something in Berhalter's team.

13:51

Japan 1-0 USA

24min: Japan finally have the ball in the net...

but it's ruled out for offside! It's very tight and VAR is checking the call.

It's been given! USMNT is punished for its carelessness at the back and Kamada is played through with just Turner to beat.
The pass is perfectly weighted and he hits it first time past Turner into the bottom right
corner.

Japan 1-0 USA

13:49

20min: Japan is building some momentum here and finding gaps in the USMNT defense.
Not only that but Berhalter's side can't seem to string a couple
of passes together.

13:44

16min: Japan starting to get on top in this game. USMNT need Weston McKennie and Brenden Aaronson to get on the ball and start
to dictate the play.

13:40

12min: The Arsenal shot-stopper is called into action again and makes
an excellent save to deny Daichi Kamada. Captain for the
day, Walker Zimmerman, gives the ball away just outside his own box and Kamada is
played through for a one vs. one but Turner gets a strong right hand to the effort.

13:38

10min: USMNT has been enjoying some possession but Japan looks threatening when it breaks the midfield line.

Japan and Real Sociedad youngster Takefusa Kubo shows his
skills to work some space to get a shot off. Again Turner can gather easily.

13:35

6min: A good chance for Jesus Ferreira to get an effort on target.
Sergino Dest does well to get to the endline and floats a
teasing cross into the area. Ferreira is unmarked and rises to get his head
to the ball but he can't get over it and his attempt goes over the
bar.

13:31

3min: A steady start to the encounter in Germany but USMNT goalkeeper Matt
Turner is called into action early on. It's a routine save after Japan had worked the ball well.

13:26

And we're underway

Japan get us started at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.

13:22

Kick-off is just moments away

13:22

Christian Pulisic is OUT injured

USMNT's star man and captain Christian Pulisic has been ruled out of today's game after a knock in training and will
be assessed to see if he can play against Saudi Arabia in Spain next
week.

13:19

Here are the teams...

Our men in Düsseldorf 🇺🇸

— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT)

13:18

Good morning!

Welcome to Dailymail.com's live coverage of USMNT's first World Cup warm-up
game.

Gregg Berhalter's side face Japan in Germany as they it looks to
fine tune the game plan ahead of Qatar.

Stay tuned for all the action!