45' 1-1 Heath chases 1-v-3 through 6-top right, gets past them to 1m 3-right -- then jukes endline to 0.5m (~2 diameters), chips delicately over Williams, but physics demands that the right instep from that angle must spin the ball ccw, which bends it away from left post. Ball spins along endline left, finally trickles over. HT 1-1.
Well, we're still looking for a right back. Sonnett looked good on the offense -- but Devanna had a space as big as Texas going down that flank. Twice. Even game. U.S. seems to be controlling the ball -- but Australia has Sam Kerr. Double or triple teaming her opens up the flank, i.e. Devanna. Thus, a 50/50 match.
Good first half with some intensity. We looked better in the final 3rd than Australia, imo. We should be putting more on goal though, but I love seeing the 100th goal from Morgan. Also I'm becoming more and more skeptical of Ellis's philosophy of just outscore them. It just doesn't work against the best teams, and we've left way too much space between lines and on the outside in this formation. It works well against the Thailands and Chiles of the world but with top ten teams, unless they're bunkering, the space that the opponent has to play with is glaring. And it's not really Dunn or Sonnett's fault; it's what Ellis has asked her outside backs to do.
I don't know, on the Aussie goal. The whole defense was pulled too far to the left side. Sonnett was left having to cover both the middle and the right. The whole defense was out of shape. This has happened a lot with this team. I think the central defenders don't have confidence in Dunn on the left side, so they tend to overload it and leave themselves exposed in the middle and right. The comment may be correct that this is a function of what Ellis is asking the outside backs to do.
46' 1-1 USA subs in (1 of 6) #3 Samantha Mewis for #16 Rose Lavelle. 47' 1-2 Both teams exchange about three consecutive turnovers each -- finally, Kellond-Knight underhits a pass up centerline, Ertz steps in front but drives a forward ball toward Morgan(?), Kennedy steps in front. Kennedy passes up centerline, Foord faces ball and dummies it through, to Kerr at 27m center -- and Foord instantly cuts leftward. Kerr taps one-touch into Foord's stride at 25m mid-left, Foord darts through scattered defense to arc left, snipes right instep bend through traffic into back right edge. Australia's small-numbers combos seem way more sophisticated than anything we create.
The US' offense has been quite predictable. But the execution of the predictable offense has been good. It is the defense that has problems. In a lot of ways it is like watching the men. There is a lot of slow reaction and poor marking. 2-1 for those from the land of the kangaroos.
I don't mind wide open games, like this one. They're exciting to watch. As long as both teams are attacking, I like our chances against anyone. I think this may be Ellis' mentality.
53' 2-2 Rapinoe left throw-in at arc top, to Morgan backshielding 1-v-1 at box top left. Morgan does a chest-spin-ccw into own stride, chases down box left and crosses hard low through 3m, Heath misses a near-post run. Australia clear to ~arc top, Mewis chips to 4m 6-left. Heath distracts by jumping and missing, Rapinoe runs behind her and collects, hooks another hard low cross to right post, nobody there. Sonnett (way up, where she should be ) crosses to 2m left post, Heath is still there and nods a header upward into left 90, Williams can only slap ball into own right side netting as she tumbles into own goal. That @ThornsFC connection tho!@emilysonnett to @TobinHeath 🌹 pic.twitter.com/X9A9Uidwm5— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 5, 2019 57' 2-2 Australia subs in (1 of 6) #15 Gielnik for #11 Lisa De Vanna.
I wasn't referring to the Aussie goal specifically, more of a general feeling from the game. But on the goal, Sonnett doesn't make the right recovery run. She runs straight down the field like she's another CB, instead of running at an angle to cover both Dahlkemper and Devanna, the opponent she's supposed to have covered. Ertz also dives and leaves tons of space between the midfield line and backline, which is also a bit of an illustration of what I was talking about. She steps forward (and dives), but there's no other midfielder dropping quickly enough to cover her...too much space between the lines, plus all of the space Sonnett left out on her side. (The space between the midfield and backline happens again on the buildup to the second Aussie goal...although to be fair, it looked like half the team was still in the locker room on that one.) I think Ellis could be asking the team to essentially play a 3 back, and maybe Sonnett is supposed to just make that recovery run like a CB, but it leaves way too much space against a team with skilled strikers and speed.
Good job getting back to that ball by Rapinoe... that would be a difficult pass... she's going to take the shot... Damn pinoe 3-2
There is a problem with the "formation" when, during the run of play, you look up and can recognize what it is. Too often the US is sitting it three nice lines across the field. A line of four defenders then three midfielders and then three forwards. It will happen at times for just about any team but it is happening MUCH too often for all the US teams I have seen play lately. With all the talent the US has (witness Rapino who just scored to make it 3-2) maybe it would be better just to tell them to "go play soccer" and turn them loose otherwise.