Game 2 Pre/PBP/Post USA-Scotland 2/13

This.

Years before she makes Rampone nervous.

 

29' 1-0 Wambach chases a long ball into the right corner, lunges and pokes it off #10 Beattie.
29' 1-0 USA right throw-in, Wambach sends it into the box at 4m mid-right but Scotland steal it and clear.

Attendance? Lower (central ) stands look full.

 

it feels like I am watching the game from inside a cocktail shaker. Please cameraman...steady

 

Commentator just said Stagnant. We need to make a sub now I think.

 

That's been Cheney for most of the last year. I'm still trying to figure out what happened to the Cheney from the WC.

 

Press at halftime?

 

Camera-side stands closed, apparently - no one sitting there.

 

Rapinoe can play.

 

maybe rapinoe will give her a header opportunity but she can't run under balls. Sorry, abby. and sister, don't call her during game-time and say, i posted this.

 

If we only had 3? No . . . If we have 6 and we want to give people playing time? Yes.

 

On the bright side, she is running back for defence.

 

34' 1-0 USA clears to Leroux at her own -35m, and she runs up the centerline on a 3-v-3 break, to 30m. Passes diagonally to box top left for Wambach, but not deep enough: it forces Wambach to slow, and then Scotland retreats in numbers and USA must probe. Backpass to Cheney, backpass to Boxx, all the speed has leaked away. Finally Rapinoe hoofs from 22m box left, well high. Leroux will learn to be more vicious with her passes.

 

I think Cheney's been fine. She watches the ball because she's moving to be an outlet pass for the ball carriers. She's running the backline well and keeping the ball moving. No complaints from me on that note.

Also, was she the one that did that great weighted pass to Leroux (who then decided to pass to Wambach on the ground instead of take the shot)?

 

Did Engen just . . . no, that would be silly.

 

LOL, Engen misread that ball completely. That was embarrassing.

And... another embarrassing pass by her, straight off Scotland to another Scotland player.

 

Can't think of the last time I've seen a healthy player subbed out before halftime, even in a friendly. Would expect multiple subs to start the second half, though.

 

Ok. That step up by Engen and the long pass was good. Now she needs to show she can do something besides boom it.

 

38' 1-0 USA siege, Scotland clear to 19m arc left. O'Reilly (or O'Hara?) chips it back to 7m center, Wambach gets an awkward twisting header but not on frame, pops up short and Fay steps forward to catch it at 2m.

38' 1-0 Scotland hoofs toward box top arc left. Engen, retreating, does a crazy limbo back-leaning reverse header off the top of her Scotland-pointing skull. That's, like, Navratilova doing the reverse overhead smash with the backflicking wrist ...

 

. . . Its a friendly they are using to evaluate players. I don't think anybody will get butt hurt if somebody gets pulled in this game. It happens.

I'm also not a big fan of someone who says never. Never say never.

 

Now you know why Pia didnt play her for the OLYs.