WNT vs. JAPAN 6/18

Coverage begins 7 a.m. EST at universalsports.com, where the match will be streamed live. Viewers can also watch the match tape delayed at 10 a.m. on Universal Sports Network (does anyone actually get this channel?).

Despite the choppy performance against Sweden, I expect Pia will stick with her usual starters this close to the Olympics. Interesting to see if Lloyd returns to the lineup given Cheney's lackluster effort on Saturday. But then again Lloyd didn't make much of an impression either when she came on at halftime, besides clobbering Swedes. Lori Lindsey must have been looking at all those misplaced, inaccurate passes with a wry smile.

As always, a Sauerbrunn start would be fantastic, but I'm not holding my breath.

After the World Cup final, Algarve Cup win, and draw in Sendai, if Japan gets another result here (win or draw), they'll have a clear psychological advantage going into London.

Is Homare Sawa back after her bout with vertigo?

Those who have Direct TV (satellite service) get USN. It's Channel 625.

It is also available on DishTV, Time Warner, and several other providers. It is NOT generally available through Comcast, which to folks in Portland, is not at all surprising. They won't even carry the City's professional Basketball team.

To find out how to get it where you are,

http://universalsports.com/tv-listings/channel-finder

And for you real sports junkies, they have almost 6,000 uploads on YouTube.
http://m.youtube.com/user/sportsnetwork?client=mv-google

Disappointing..

You can vote with your wallet.

It is not available for TimeWarner customers in my area. I'm glad they're doing the webcasting thing.

#USWNT starters vs. JPN: Solo; LePeilbet, Rampone (capt.), Buehler, O’Hara; Rapinoe, Boxx, Cheney, Heath; Morgan, Wambach.

o'hara back at left back (hopefully with a healthy leg)

mitts back to the bench, and lepeilbet back at right back

also heath instead of o'reilly who's only move was stuffed several times by the japanese left back last game. heath cannot defend as well, is not as fast, but might be able to dribble past the defender and connect with abby and or morgan. her opportunity to exhibit some consistency which she never has shown.

i need more time to edit my post!!!!!!!

my thoughts: uswnt vs japan is essentially a quickness and passing vs strength/speed/height matchup. in a loose ball battle, the smaller, quicker japanese will normally get to the ball first - especially in the midfield where it is easy to outquickpass lloyd, cheney, boxxy, lindsey, whoever is there. so don't be surprised when it happens several times a game, and don't be too broken up about japan having the ball more than the uswnt.

what the uswnt must do: do not play japan's game - you can't do it. still press japan to stop them having too much time on the ball. but be ready for the defense and solo to come up big when you lose those challenges. because you will lose most of them. when you win them, attack with strength/speed/height - typical uswnt advantages.

anthems playing - u.s. first, then japanese.

handshakes.

both sawa and miyama in the midfield.

trouble for the u.s.

Getting the online broadcast commentary free? That's a surprise.

wild goal by baby horse

hope tries the short passing to buehler and almost gives up a goal as the japanese press the ball.

heath pays off right away. she plays the ball to morgan up the left side, and morgan blasts a beauty into the net with that powerful left boot of hers.

1-0 uswnt.

abby goal!

2-0 Wambach 10th minute

Nice job by the USA to keep the ball up top and open a little space for Rapinoe on the wing. Nice low cross from her that Wambach pokes in at the near post.

strength pays off again. rapinoe passes the ball on the ground in front of the net and abby overpowers the defender to get a toe on it.

2-0 uswnt

Wambach and Morgan are at it again - wonderful first ten minutes. Japan unable to cope with U.S. high pressure.

13' 0-2 Comical fail moment: ball to box top arc (Japan's) right, #3(c) Rampone(?) backpasses rapidly to (USA's) left post. #1 Solo tries to play with her feet, topspin bounceback, she stumbles into the post, and the ball squirts away and rolls over. Japan right corner cleared.

Is it likely that UniversalSports will offer a replay later? I've got to leave for work soon-ish. I'll probably streatch things til half but then...

love the slight changes in line-up. no lloyd starting 2 games in a row? NO hao starting??
heath's final third passing is usually pretty good....especially when in the middle...
abby has spent most of this first half on the ground!

The lack of commentary is wondrous. Not having to listen to Foudy or Chastain yammer about the back post or whatever crap they're on about that day is so relaxing.

21' 0-2 Long spell of midfield possession, mostly by Japan. Shot from 21m arc right, high.

22' 0-2 USA in center circle, lose a ping duel, now harassing Japan. Japan roll long from midfield right to top arc, #9 Kawasumi offside.

23' 0-2 #16 Yano outleaps #20 Wambach(?) for a header, clobbers her with the body. USA free kick headed clear.

24' 0-2 #17 Nagasato gets buehldozed. Yellow card, Japan free kick from 32m center ...

#14 Yano just managed to completely bowl the larger Wambach over. She'll wear it as a badge of honor the rest of her life.

'Dozer w/ the yellow. Unnecessary tackle there. Free kick right into the wall.

Japan goal near post header