Scotland’s World Cup hopes hang by a thread after a 2-1 defeat to Japan.
First-half goals from Mana Iwabuchi and Yuika Sugasawa – the latter a debatable penalty – condemned Scotland to back-to-back group-stage defeats.
Lana Clelland gave the travelling supporters something to cheer about with a spectacular late consolation, but it all came too late for the Scots.
Given four of the six third-place teams also qualify for the knockout stages and three of them currently have three points, Shelley Kerr’s side face an uphill task to achieve their goal of making it out of the group.
They return to action on Wednesday, facing final group opponents Argentina in Paris.
Scotland made four changes from the 2-1 defeat to England, with Kirsty Smith, Hayley Lauder, Jane Ross and Lizzie Arnot called into the side for Sophie Howard, Nicola Docherty, Claire Emslie and Christie Murray.
It meant a 100th cap for Lauder, drafted in for Docherty who endured a difficult afternoon in the group opener in Nice.
Japan, who drew 0-0 with Argentina in their opening game, threatened early on with sharp movement from Sugasawa, who escaped Scotland’s clutches to cross for Emi Nakajima at the back post. However, her volley drifted harmlessly wide.
Scotland looked comfortable in possession in the opening 20 minutes without troubling the Japan goal, but needed to guard against unnecessary complacency. Caroline Weir trod on the ball near her own penalty era and ceded control to Iwabuchi, whose shot was gathered comfortably at the near post by Alexander.
Iwabuchi broke the deadlock mid-way through the first half, after Rachel Corsie’s header fell straight to Jun Endo and she teed up the striker, who beat Alexander convincingly from the edge of the box.
Nervy moments ensued for Shelley Kerr’s side, with Kim Little required to clear a Saki Kumagai header off the line when Alexander had failed to come and collect a free-kick.
Matters did get worse on 37 minutes, when Corsie was adjudged to have fouled Sugasawa in the penalty area. Replays showed she had an arm on the shoulder of the Japanese striker and while she protested to referee Lidya Abebe, her complaints were in vain. Sugasawa rolled the penalty past a wrong-footed Alexander.
The 2015 runners-up hit the frame of the goal before the break as Scotland wilted, with Endo’s cutback turned on to the post by Hina Sugita.
There was little sign of improvement in the first 15 minutes of the second period as Japan maintained their stranglehold on the game. Alexander got a strong hand to Nakajima’s shot to keep the score down, while at the other end a rare opportunity passed Scotland by when Evans lashed over following a half-cleared corner.
Erin Cuthbert hit the post with 12 minutes to go after Japan failed to deal with a Weir free-kick and had a penalty appeal waved off when the same player appeared to have been barged over.
Evans forced a meaningful save out of Ayaka Yamashita with six minutes to go and Scotland were denied what appeared a clear penalty, as Risa Shimizu handled in front of Cuthbert.
Clelland, a late substitute, made a decisive impact with a 25-yard strike into the top corner with three minutes remaining, but time ran out on a potential Scotland comeback.
