[Redrum]

Ah, well.    After I saw Japan beat Sweden I told others who followed the WWC that Japan was by far the most dangerous opponent.

To the old AYSO coach in me,  there were times when it seemed to be degenerating into youth soccer.  Kick the ball way downfield and hope for the best.  But, we were in it to the last, so maybe both sides played youth soccer. 

Without calling a whole list of people out,  to me Carli Lloyd had a game that typified the U.S.  During the happy times when we were shooting and always threatening during the first half,  she had a straight on shot at a basically open net with the keeper pulled off to the far side.  No defender on her, in the box.  Booted it left into the stands.    Also some errant passes to open players during our many attacks.  Then in the PK shootout,  just sent the ball over the cross bar...and not close over the crossbar.    We didn't lose because of Carli Lloyd,  but she could be the poster child for "close but not cigar."

Oh, well.  On to the Olympics.

[Redrum]

Ah, well.    After I saw Japan beat Sweden I told others who followed the WWC that Japan was by far the most dangerous opponent.

To the old AYSO coach in me,  there were times when it seemed to be degenerating into youth soccer.  Kick the ball way downfield and hope for the best.  But, we were in it to the last, so maybe both sides played youth soccer. 

Without calling a whole list of people out,  to me Carli Lloyd had a game that typified the U.S.  During the happy times when we were shooting and always threatening during the first half,  she had a straight on shot at a basically open net with the keeper pulled off to the far side.  No defender on her, in the box.  Booted it left into the stands.    Also some errant passes to open players during our many attacks.  Then in the PK shootout,  just sent the ball over the cross bar...and not close over the crossbar.    We didn't lose because of Carli Lloyd,  but she could be the poster child for "close but not cigar."

Oh, well.  On to the Olympics.

[washingtonismoney]

The U.S. alternated between snappy passages of passing and terrible WTF are you doing? passing. That combined with the comedy defending was enough.

The U.S. may avoid total infamy--Brazil just seized the title of "worst penalty shootout ever" in its loss to Paraguay in the Copa America like five minutes ago. Somewhere old Dutch and English players are excitedly asking whether they're off the hook.

[washingtonismoney]

The U.S. alternated between snappy passages of passing and terrible WTF are you doing? passing. That combined with the comedy defending was enough.

The U.S. may avoid total infamy--Brazil just seized the title of "worst penalty shootout ever" in its loss to Paraguay in the Copa America like five minutes ago. Somewhere old Dutch and English players are excitedly asking whether they're off the hook.

[Nan3cy]

And very distressing that Japan's first goal was the result of a defensive brain cramp by Rachel Buehler... :(

[Nan3cy]

And very distressing that Japan's first goal was the result of a defensive brain cramp by Rachel Buehler... :(

[Redrum]

I don't think I have the heart to watch a replay,  but the play I saw was that Buehler the Japan player crashed and Buehler went down.  The ball was loose sort of at her feet  and she was turned facing the left side of the goal.  If she leaves the ball out there  3 yards from the goal mouth  Japan kicks it in.  She couldn't take time to clear it to the short side because she was facing the other way.  Normally kick the ball across the goal mouth is  one of the dumbest plays one can make.  Except....the ball was already semi-loose right in front of the goal and if she'd done nothing the results were almost guaranteed to be bad.  She cleared it to the other defender (also in front of the goal mouth)  who couldn't handle it.  A sweeping kick could have cleared it up the middle but Buehler's feed came too fast and she couldn't react.    I was surprised that the announcer later hung it on Buehler.  Fact is it looked like just a bad situation where trying to kick it out or letting it stay loose and hoping the goalie could recover or another defender could clear it ...that either choice was bad.  That's what happens when the ball gets through right in front of the goal.  The other U.S. defender had the last chance to avoid disaster, but couldn't.

[Redrum]

I don't think I have the heart to watch a replay,  but the play I saw was that Buehler the Japan player crashed and Buehler went down.  The ball was loose sort of at her feet  and she was turned facing the left side of the goal.  If she leaves the ball out there  3 yards from the goal mouth  Japan kicks it in.  She couldn't take time to clear it to the short side because she was facing the other way.  Normally kick the ball across the goal mouth is  one of the dumbest plays one can make.  Except....the ball was already semi-loose right in front of the goal and if she'd done nothing the results were almost guaranteed to be bad.  She cleared it to the other defender (also in front of the goal mouth)  who couldn't handle it.  A sweeping kick could have cleared it up the middle but Buehler's feed came too fast and she couldn't react.    I was surprised that the announcer later hung it on Buehler.  Fact is it looked like just a bad situation where trying to kick it out or letting it stay loose and hoping the goalie could recover or another defender could clear it ...that either choice was bad.  That's what happens when the ball gets through right in front of the goal.  The other U.S. defender had the last chance to avoid disaster, but couldn't.

[yvonne]

Buehler had an awful tournament.

[yvonne]

Buehler had an awful tournament.

[oman]

You guys are blaming the defense?  After one of the most comical exhibitions of failure to finish?

This is 90% on the attack. 

Lloyd had what -- 30 shots this tournament with none on goal?

[oman]

You guys are blaming the defense?  After one of the most comical exhibitions of failure to finish?

This is 90% on the attack. 

Lloyd had what -- 30 shots this tournament with none on goal?

[washingtonismoney]

Well, of course. The U.S. scored two goals. That should generally be enough.

Meanwhile each of the goals the U.S. conceded were caused by egregious errors, and there were several other very bad errors that could've been punished.

Obviously it would've been nice if the finishing were better, but many of those misses the announcers were bemoaning (particularly in the first half) were no better than half-chances. The U.S. defense blew the basics.

[washingtonismoney]

Well, of course. The U.S. scored two goals. That should generally be enough.

Meanwhile each of the goals the U.S. conceded were caused by egregious errors, and there were several other very bad errors that could've been punished.

Obviously it would've been nice if the finishing were better, but many of those misses the announcers were bemoaning (particularly in the first half) were no better than half-chances. The U.S. defense blew the basics.

[oman]

Well, of course. The U.S. scored two goals. That should generally be enough.

Generally being the operative word.  If you want to be specific, enough is more than what the other team scores.

And Japan averaged 2 goals in group play and 2 goals in the finals.  So we shouldn't have planned for two to be enough.

Shots (on Goal)
Japan 14(4)
United States 27(6) 

[oman]

Well, of course. The U.S. scored two goals. That should generally be enough.

Generally being the operative word.  If you want to be specific, enough is more than what the other team scores.

And Japan averaged 2 goals in group play and 2 goals in the finals.  So we shouldn't have planned for two to be enough.

Shots (on Goal)
Japan 14(4)
United States 27(6) 

[yvonne]

Seemed to me it was Defender No. 2 who could have cleared the ball and didn't, not that I'm a soccer expert.

I saw the replay. You're right. Rachel was on the ground and couldn't defend it.

[yvonne]

Seemed to me it was Defender No. 2 who could have cleared the ball and didn't, not that I'm a soccer expert.

I saw the replay. You're right. Rachel was on the ground and couldn't defend it.

[mark3k]

[quote author=garvin link=topic=4218.msg30108#msg30108 date=1310947800]
Seemed to me it was Defender No. 2 who could have cleared the ball and didn't, not that I'm a soccer expert.

I saw the replay. You're right. Rachel was on the ground and couldn't defend it.
[/quote]

I may be biased (I am), but I agree... seemed like Rachel did all she could on that play, and it was the other defender to got crossed-up.

To Oman's point, the question I kept asking myself was why Lloyd was still out there?!?  Way too many missed/wasted opportunities (and turnovers).  The only reason I could think of for not subbing for her was that perhaps she was a must-have if we went to PKs, but then she missed that too :-(

[mark3k]

[quote author=garvin link=topic=4218.msg30108#msg30108 date=1310947800]
Seemed to me it was Defender No. 2 who could have cleared the ball and didn't, not that I'm a soccer expert.

I saw the replay. You're right. Rachel was on the ground and couldn't defend it.
[/quote]

I may be biased (I am), but I agree... seemed like Rachel did all she could on that play, and it was the other defender to got crossed-up.

To Oman's point, the question I kept asking myself was why Lloyd was still out there?!?  Way too many missed/wasted opportunities (and turnovers).  The only reason I could think of for not subbing for her was that perhaps she was a must-have if we went to PKs, but then she missed that too :-(

[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

[pefloresjr]

I watched and agree that on the first goal, the second defender (I think it was Krieger) should have been able to clear the ball but it seemed to get to her faster than expected and she didn't get anything on the attempted clear.  It was a somewhat fluky goal.  The second goal was also kind of fluky.  The redirection off of the Japanese player's leg from way outside the goal mouth is the type of shot that almost never goes in.  If it had not changed direction a second time when it bounced off of Wambach, I'm pretty sure that Solo stops it.  The US outplayed Japan overall and probably should have won, but the US did not finish well in the first half and the bounces (fate?) ultimately went Japan's way.  Poor play on the penalty kicks shouldn't taint the excellent play by both sides in this game. 

Cheers,
Pete F.

[pefloresjr]

I watched and agree that on the first goal, the second defender (I think it was Krieger) should have been able to clear the ball but it seemed to get to her faster than expected and she didn't get anything on the attempted clear.  It was a somewhat fluky goal.  The second goal was also kind of fluky.  The redirection off of the Japanese player's leg from way outside the goal mouth is the type of shot that almost never goes in.  If it had not changed direction a second time when it bounced off of Wambach, I'm pretty sure that Solo stops it.  The US outplayed Japan overall and probably should have won, but the US did not finish well in the first half and the bounces (fate?) ultimately went Japan's way.  Poor play on the penalty kicks shouldn't taint the excellent play by both sides in this game. 

Cheers,
Pete F.

[Griffins78]

Here's a great article on Rachel before the final: (USA's Rachel Buehler could play key role in stopping Japan)

She was chosen by the US National Team Coach, Pia Sundhage to be

co-captain of the team last year and is basically a captain-in-waiting to the other U.S. center back, 36-year-old Christie Rampone.

and she's been accepted to medical school too.

[Griffins78]

Here's a great article on Rachel before the final: (USA's Rachel Buehler could play key role in stopping Japan)

She was chosen by the US National Team Coach, Pia Sundhage to be

co-captain of the team last year and is basically a captain-in-waiting to the other U.S. center back, 36-year-old Christie Rampone.

and she's been accepted to medical school too.