San Jose CA (AHN) - A strong U.S. Women's National Soccer Team featuring a mix of experience and new talent coasted to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Japan in San Jose, California on Saturday.

In a tune-up ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in China in September, Shannon Boxx scored her first goal after coming back from injury and captain Kristine Lilly netted her 124th career goal as the USA scored twice in both halves in front of a crowd 11,000 strong at Spartan Stadium.

The U.S. will look to extend this year's 11-0-2 record, when they face New Zealand in Chicago on August 12, as part of their WWC 2007 preparation.

Boxx scored her 15th international career goal with a powerful header to give the USA the lead over Japan. Boxx, back following successful surgery for a knee injury she picked up in 2006, dropped her defensive marker to bullet a header past Japan goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto, following a corner kick taken by Stephanie Lopez in the 17th minute of play.

The goal forced Japan onto the offensive and following a series of corner kicks a nicely struck shot by Shinobu Ohno from the right side of the penalty area, was well-saved by U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo.

But the U.S. were always in control, and just before the interval, they benefited from an own goal by Yukari Kinga, after the Japanese defender knocked an off-target header from Lindsay Tarpley into her own net from a few yards out (41').

The second half was mostly one-way traffic, with the U.S. mounting wave upon wave of attack and peppering the Japan goal with shots.

On the 55th minute mark, Leslie Osborne crossed from the right flank to Lori Chalupny, who controlled the ball beautifully before passing to Lilly. The U.S. captain struck an unstoppable, swerving shot past Fukumoto, to record her 124th career goal and seventh of 2007.

With the U.S. on cruise control, the unfortunate Kinga handled the ball in the penalty box (72'). From the spot, Abby Wambach sent Fukumoto the wrong way to score her 75th career goal, tying Cindy Parlow for fifth on the all-time scoring list.

The USA's shutout streak of 398 minutes over the past four games ended 11 minutes from time when, after an excellent piece of collective play by the Japanese, Yuki Nagasato drove the ball past Solo from 12 yards out.

At the post match press conference, U.S. head coach Greg Ryan said: "I was really happy with the performance.

"I thought we defended really well. Japan is very quick, skillful and creative, and broke us down in the second half, but overall I thought we defended very well.

"I was really happy with how aggressive we were in attacking and really going after them."

U.S. captain Lilly, questioned as to how she feels the team is playing heading into the World Cup, replied: "Each game we feel better.

"Obviously, there are moments we want to change and we don't want to let in a goal like that.

"We get little lulls - 15 or 20 minutes - in a game that we want to clean up and end up keeping the ball.

"But I thought overall this team did great tonight, all our subs stepping on the field tonight and making a difference, it was really awesome tonight for us."

Lineups:

USA: 18-Hope Solo; 3-Christie Rampone, 4-Cat Whitehill, 15-Kate Markgraf; 14-Stephanie Lopez (8-Tina Ellertson, 75); 7-Shannon Boxx (16-Angela Hucles, 85), 12-Leslie Osborne (11-Carli Lloyd, 61), 17-Lori Chalupny; 5-Lindsay Tarpley (6-Natasha Kai, 70), 20-Abby Wambach, 13-Kristine Lilly - Capt. (19-Marci Jobson, 83)

Subs not used: 1-Briana Scurry, 2-Marian Dalmy Head Coach: Greg Ryan

JAPAN: 1-Miho Fukumoto; 2-Azusa Iwashimizu (19-Mami Yamaguchi, 86), 3-Hiromi Isozaki, 4-Tomoe Sakai (6-Kozue Ando, 12, 20-Mizuho Sakaguchi, 67), 23-Nayuha Toyodal; 5-Tomomi Miyamoto, 8-Aya Miyama (7-Miyuki Yanagita, 58), 10-Homare Sawa, 14-Yukari Kinga (13-KyokoYano, 75) ; 9-Eriko Arakawa (18-Yuki Nagasato, 67), 11-Shinobu Ohno.

Subs not used: 12-Nozomi Yamago Head Coach: Hiroshi Yoshida

Woman of the Match: Lori Chalupny

FINAL: USA 4 JAPAN 1

International Friendly : Venue: Spartan Stadium, San Jose, California : Attendance: 11,290 : Weather: Clear, breezy - 76 degrees

U.S. faces New Zealand on August 12 in Chicago, as the Send-Off Series Continues.