[PAN-GUA] 37' 0-0 Guatemala cannot clear ball from their own deep left corner. Both teams scuff it gradually to box top. Panama's tall forward (who's about 5" taller than Guatemala's defenders) dribbles out with back to goal, fends off #9's challenge with a left forearm push to the neck. Foul on Guatemala, they wanted a foul on her. Guatemala keeps the ball and stomps around, shoving ensues. The ref emphatically separates the two teams; even the AR runs in all the way to the box top right post. Order finally restored ... 39' 1-0 Panama free kick at box arc top center. #9 Natalie Mills hits it a ton, keeps it waist-high, pulls it across the face of the wall and dips just inside the left post to the back corner low. 40' 1-1 Off the restart , Guatemala play long to #8 Maria Monterroso running free up the box left lane, with half a step on #3. Monterroso carries to 7m 6-left, opens hips and strikes perfectly right instep at the best possible shot window, under Dayton Wetherby to midleft low. Teammates dogpile Monterroso at box top left. HT.
FT 3-1. Home-field advantage was too much to overcome. Guatemala were gassed at the end, and could only hoof long balls that they couldn't chase down. Semifinalists all set, just have to decide the cross-overs. Group A 6+12 (13-01) Mexico 6+07 (07-00) Canada 0-04 (01-05) Jamaica 0-15 (00-15) Haiti Group B 6+12 (12-0) USA 6+03 (05-2) Panama 0-07 (01-8) Cuba 0-08 (01-9) Guatemala
The only interesting question is: Are Panama able to upset any of the other three teams during the KO-rounds? Maybe they can do the same thing Costa Rica did during the last tournament (not necessarily against Canada).
first round, second leg, African qualifying Mozambique 0:3 Zimbabwe (0:7 aggregate) Equatorial Guinea 1:2 Mali (1:6 aggregate) Zimbabwe advance to play Nigeria Mali advance to play DR Congo
[Haiti-Jamaica] 25' 0-0 Jamaica free kick #9 from 25m box left, on-frame high, GK #1 parries it over the bar. 26' 0-0 Innovation: On the restart, Haiti #2 Sindy Jeune takes a knee to the coccyx or similar, and stays down at box top (her) right. Haiti clear, trainer emerges, presses a large bag of ice cubes to Jeune's sternum, gently lifts her by the ribs to arch her back Jeune hobbles off. Jamaica get to 6-right foot, backpass for wide-open shot, well-saved twice, spins across the goalline and Haiti clears. 41' 0-0 Haiti #18 slides inside-out to her box top left to tackle ball, gets raked or stomped on the inside left calf. Stays down, gets the ice bag, takes the stretcher. At 0-0 with both sides relatively even (Haiti's creating decent chances), you must be legitimately injured to accept the stretcher. HT. Maybe Haiti finished the half with 10. Didn't see a sub.
[CAN-MEX] -10' Floodlights, empty field. Far side bleachers have a smattering of people, about 20 clumped at midfield. Some blurry movement along the bench bus stops. Need somebody jogging laps around the bowl concourse with a big-ass flag. Speaking of which: flagbearers!!
10' 0-0 Mexico opened with 1 minute of box top pressure. Canada has built about 5 forays to 30m, resulting in attempts at the home-run through ball or shot from box top, none close. Both defenses are doing enough 1-v-1 to clear anything close -- nobody's cracked under close marking yet. No rosters available. CONCACAF rosters omit jersey numbers, and Canada Soccer's teams pages are all down for renovation, uh huh. TV did not show starters/bench graphics. 12' 0-0 Mexico #10 shoots from 20m box right, just wide right. Mexico free kick from 25m 6-left, curls to center and Canada GK catches face-high.
26' 0-0 Mexico free kick from left touch center circle top. Sails long to left post, #7(c) Nayeli Rangel chases and slides, nobody can reach it as it bounces ~2m wide left and over. Now I need the other 21 players to make a play or get carded or subbed ...
27' 0-0 Canada play down box right, #11 turns corner at endline and is tackled down, bounces up and another defender bangs ball off her and to the flag. Foul on the tackle, just outside 18-right. 28' 1-0 Free kick, #11(?) vs. just a 2-person wall. She snipes around it to #10 parked at 5m mid-right -- why'd Mexico let her just stand alone there?? #10 does a back-sole stomp-flick toward left post -- #15 Vanessa Legault flash-cuts in front of her ball-watching marker to 3m mid-left and dunks. Mexico protest that Legault was offside after #10's flick, but it looked like she timed her cut.
That opened end-to-end action!! 29' 1-0 Canada through-ball to #17 running diagonally through box top arc right, shoots ~1 diameter wide of right post. 30' 1-0 Mexico in Canada's box, cleared. Canada shoots left post, #1 smothers it. 32' 1-0 Mexico long ball to 6-top left post. #11 lunges and heads just-after #1 lunges and grabs, drives her face into skull or shoulder. Resumes, but walks a bit woozy. 33' 1-0 Canada excellent quick-pass inside-out through box top left, wide-open cross from 9m box left to three unmarked at 6-top -- #10 or #17 defers to the other of the two, surprises her, awkward squat-thrust toe-poke floats gently into #1's chest, she falls on it, no rebound as six shoes poach.
40' 1-0 Canada another dynamic pass-and-run springs #10 down box to 6-top left. Quick sweeping low shot blocked point-blank, over, she arches head skyward and wonders why her. 41' 1-0 Canada left corner, to #10 parked at 2m mid-left, this time well-compressed between two defenders. Ball clangs off those 3 + GK, trickles diagonally in to right back. Waved off: foul on #10?? 43' 1-0 Canada #2(?) and #15 combine rapidly up the right, curl a long cross to box top center. #10 (or #17?) charging forth in a race vs GK #1 coming all the way out, as #4 and Mexico #15 pinch in. #4 slides and hooks ball off #10's shins, all three stumble, GK does not clear, overshoots herself past box top! #10 recovers first, stumble-steps to ball -- #15 runs half-moon around all 3 of them, scythes ball clear. HT. Canada has fast-break threats, and have somehow sustained that pace for ~30'. Mexico are trying for possession, but they're doing so much vertical running to put out fires that it's rattling them.
Canada's roster is well-hidden at http://canadasoccer.com/canada-w20-announces-roster-for-concacaf-tournament-p149459 Amazing play-by-play.
54' 1-0 More end-to-end, but Canada are not quite as frantic in going forward, and Mexico are starting to get to box top and endline. #8 crosses in-the-run from the right corner little arc, into a huge goalline scrum and #1 Sabrina D’Angelo calmly catches high. 55' 1-0 Mexico subs in (1 of 3) #17(c<=) Yamile Franco for #7(<=c) Lydia Nayeli Rangel Hernandez. 57' 1-0 Canada too long into box for #17, #1 comes up and gathers.
58' 1-0 Canada subs in (2 of 3) #21 Christine Exeter for #17 Nkem Ezurike. 59' 1-0 Mexico subs in (2 of 3) #14 Fernanda Piña for #11 Chrystal Martinez. Mexico are starting to get crosses in, forcing D'Angelo to catch.
Canada: (best guesses) [lineup-4-4-2] 17=>21 C.Exeter, 11 J.Richardson , 10 C.Oduro, 7 C.de Chantal-D., 6=>9 C.C-Delage, 15 V.Legault-C. , 8 D.Wu, 5 Sh.Zadorsky, 4 R.Melhado, 2 K.Davis , 1.Sabrina D'Angelo [/lineup-4-4-2] I'm missing somebody, but they WON'T STOP MOVING. Mexico: [lineup-4-4-2] 11=>14 F.Piña, 9=>20 D.Solis , 6, 7=>17(c) Y.Franco, 8, 10 C.Oduro , 3, 4 C.Murillo, 15, 2 , 1 C.Santiago [/lineup-4-4-2]
65' 1-0 #14 Piña gets to 12m 6-right, shoots hard across her body, just wide left. 66' 1-0 Mexico shoots from box top, #1 D'Angelo dives to (her) right post and double-palms it wide.
73' 1-0 Canada springs #11 Jenna Richardson breaking away to box top arc right, #1 Cecelia Santiago comes to box top to challenge. Richardson one-touch lobs her -- right post low, and bounces out to Santiago. 75' 1-0 Mexico free kick from center circle top, low and fast to 14m center. Jumping flick-header (or defender's own-header ), redirects viciously to center low and still fast, #1 D'Angelo sprawls on it. 76' 1-0 Mexico #10 drills a long shot from 25m arc right -- #1 D'Angelo dives and palms it wide, it skitters into the pulled-out back part of the net, squeezes into a loose fold, rolls along the back pipe. Mexico knew it wasn't in, they promptly call for the corner (and get it). 79' 1-0 #17 Franco chips, drops it under crossbar, D'Angelo must jump and palm it over.
I missed a sub? Around 63': - Mexico (3 of 3) #20 Daniela Solis for #9 Tanya Samarzich. 80' 1-0 #17 Franco tries to dribble/shield, coughs it up terribly at 30m arc left. #11 Richardson poaches, breaks all alone, through box top -- doesn't shoot. Tries to square to #21 Exeter, #4 Murillo lunges in and steps on ball -- didn't mean to, but it works perfectly: Richardson stumbles over ball, goes down. Lying-on-sides foot duel, Mexico clear. Richardson sighs. 86' 1-0 Canada cross from box top wide left. Cleared past #21 Exeter through box top center, she hears a call-off and lets it go. #9 Catherine Charron-Delage gathers going forward, sidesteps around one defender, blasts rising rocket -- too much rising, high by ~1 diameter.
88' 1-0 #10 Christabel Oduro turns corner down box left foot, gets body-shielded off ball just inside the box, flops backward like Apolo Anton Ohno getting crosstracked, stays on her back. Ref is not impressed. Oduro starts cramping, must leave field for one sequence. 90+1' (of 3') Mexico #20 Daniela Solis drives down box right, gets stuffed, turns inside her defender and dumps her down, collects ball and goes into 6-top left. Shoots hard riser -- #1 D'Angelo reflex-palms ball up off crossbar, rebounds out to box (Mexico's) left. Mexico hacked down, foul. Free kick drilled into wall, fizzle.
90+3' (of 3') 1-0 Canada subs in (3 of 3) #13 Amélia Pietrangelo for #21 Christine Exeter. 90+4' (of 3') 1-0 Mexico frantically push it to right corner, win a throw-in. Ref checks watch, decrees one more sequence. #14 Piña drives endline right, crosses high to 6-top left. Mexico has one unmarked, standing driven header down, bounces up to left post, D'Angelo palms it away. Loose at the 6-top, D'Angelo charges and splits three Mexican jerseys to collect. FT.
Just wanted to add to this. Since I follow women's college soccer, Canada has about 18 players on their roster playing in the NCAA college ranks. Many of them on good squads like Memphis, Louisville and Ohio who all were in the NCAA tournament. Lots of flow and back and forth action between both teams. Canada dominating in the first half and Mexico taking it to Canada in the second. Partly due to the fact Canada was sitting on their 1 goal lead, which good teams should never do. Player of note, since I couldn't figure out which players on the Mexico side were. But on the Canadian side, I know quite a few of them because of their time in college. Sabrina D'Angelo the shining star of the game. Time and again, she made key stops and tips to keep the ball out of the net. She may not look athletic, but she has a very good grasp of where she has to be to make plays on the ball. And her jumping tip to prevent a long lob on goal was exceptiional as well as the 1 or 2 parries she made from short range to prevent goals were highlight reel saves. And she made another spectacular save when a mexican player shot the ball in and it was headed into the net by a Canadian player on a misplay and Sabrina grabbed it. So far in this tournament, she has kept a clean sheet. If the University of South Carolina isn't starting this girl, then they are nuts. Christobel Oduro. She wore #10 and played very well. She is a tiny player, but plays the ball at her feet and is a playmaker. She was playing at midfield, though I think in Memphis she is a forward. Her back heel flick to a charging Legault was masterful. The play started of with a corner kick going by a 2 man wall. Oduro was planted in front of the Goalie with no marker to watch her, the ball was played to her and she flicked it back to the open side past the goalie to a rushing Legault. Nice vision or maybe it was a set piece. Who knows, it was pretty neverless. Danica Wu. She plays for Ohio University, and I thought she was a midfielder, but today she was on defense. She was very solid and when she was 1 on 1 she held her own. There were some breakdowns on defense in the Second Half for Canada, but Wu for the most part wasn't the reason for those good looks Mexico had on goal. Nkem Ezurike plays for the Univeristy of Michigan. I hesitate to even include her here, but she is a big target forward like Christine Exeter, and very hard to move off the ball when she gets it, but she had so many chances on goal that her failure to capitalize on just one of the four!!! chances I counted should be looked as almost as a bad game. She was a terror up front, but her lack of finishing was very disappointing. Jenna Richardson who plays for Oregen State. She has a quickness that most defenders aren't prepared for. She had 2 glorious chances on goal. one where she beat her defender and pushed the ball past a charging goalie and with an open net, her shot bounced off the upright. Another where she beat her defender and was inside the box with just the goalie defending her, but she decided to take one more touch and allowed the mexican defender to get a foot on the ball tripping Jenna up in the process. Jaclyn Sawicki lastly is someone I don't know. But she played a very pitbull type game. If you watched the game, she was #6 and you could reconize her by her speedy charges up and down the field. She was the tiny frame with long flowing black hair. She plays for a Canadian University, maybe that is why I didn't know who she was, but in midfield, she showed alot of pace and if she was beat by a Mexican player, she would use that pace to come back to the player and defend. Very good game between these two talented squads. Mexico did try to play a more possession style of soccer, while Canada played a mixture of Possession and long ball. And why not, they have these huge target forwards in Ezurike and Exeter who excelled at dominating the play when they got the ball. If the US beats Mexico, they will be in the Finals and a clash between the US and Canada should be very intresting and fun to watch with so many future college stars packed into both teams. And the scary thing for the US, Sabrina D'Angelo looks unbeatable at the moment. They are going to have a tough time getting around her. But I am getting ahead of myself, the playoffs have to be won or lost, but this does look promising.
We saw her when Stanford played South Carolina in the playoffs, and believe me, we remembered who she was. She started for that game and I think she was in the whole time. My daughter and I were very excited to see she was on the u20 team and watched today's game just to see her. Not disappointed!