[Viking_Guy]

One other issue was the second goal, with Buehler on Sawa.  Sawa ran from back to beyond the front post, rather than trying to head the ball (for a shorter player, she's got great ball-winning ability) and got the flick.  Buehler got no help from the players on the front post in the zone, who really should've been moving at the ball, but instead sat passively.

The other problem I had with Lloyd, beyond taking far too many shots for someone who missed most of them by 2 yds plus, was her (and Rapinoe, and O'Reilly's) tendency to try to take on three Japanese defenders off the dribble to cut the ball across the top of the area, instead of (A) dropping it back or (B) taking it outside to the endline and crossing it.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

One other issue was the second goal, with Buehler on Sawa.  Sawa ran from back to beyond the front post, rather than trying to head the ball (for a shorter player, she's got great ball-winning ability) and got the flick.  Buehler got no help from the players on the front post in the zone, who really should've been moving at the ball, but instead sat passively.

The other problem I had with Lloyd, beyond taking far too many shots for someone who missed most of them by 2 yds plus, was her (and Rapinoe, and O'Reilly's) tendency to try to take on three Japanese defenders off the dribble to cut the ball across the top of the area, instead of (A) dropping it back or (B) taking it outside to the endline and crossing it.

VG