Basically halftime now, and from what I can see, it looks like USA have generally been the better team, but only because they're winning the midfield. When Spain gets into their attacking third, the US defense (GK included) have always looked like a mess. But the US is keeping possession much more and keeping the game generally in Spain's half, and taking more shots from it. Far too many shots not on frame, though, something the US may rue if Spain capitalizes on one of their breakthroughs.
She's looking very dangerous, but can't get that final touch. Much faster than her Spanish counterparts, though.
45' 1-1 Mewis dribbles to 27m center, slips a through-ball try for Morgan behind the line -- intercepted at arc tangent left. 45+2' (of +3') 1-1 Rapinoe fk at 32m 6-left, it bounces at 7m 3-right, too fast for Lavelle, over endline right. 45+3' (of +3') 1-1 Spain settle that gk at circle top left touch. Longball for Nahikari 1-v-2 at 12m mid-left, Sauerbrunn heads away. L.García harasses Dunn tight against her back, Dunn turns away. 45+4' (of +3') 1-1 L.García beats Ertz down wide right with a flick-ahead cut-behind, gets inside her through box right low. Mewis comes back and intercepts at 10m mid-right. HT 1-1.
Yes, Dunn is fast too, but she seems to have some problem with her anyway. In general, all USA's defense looked quite suspect in this game. Oh, well, after all, in a World Cup, you use to meet more testing teams than Thailand!
Spain 2(1)-(4)7 shots(sog), 0-2 corners, 1-0 offsides, 8-4 fouls, 5-7 tackles, 6-15 clearances , 43% possession, 66% (94/143) - (184/228) 81% passing. Spain are attacking with longballs into 1-v-2s, so we defend many of those. We're trying a mix of wide crosses and central dribbling for through-balls, with the sporadic longball to Morgan. We lose possessions by shooting wide or having passes intercepted. Our backline is an exciting adventure, but we've known that for years. Well, nothing for it but to score more than they do. I give us 51-49 to survive
Spain is picking the US's pocket all too often. Rapinoe and Heath have lost it several times-- and they are supposed to be our most technical players. Morgan has spent the whole game lying on the ground. Is she ok? Spain is giving us a game. They could score again. Let's hope they wear out. Maybe we need more speed: Pugh and Press around minute 60?
Yeah Spain has the speed and skill, and they certainly aren't afraid of the US. Overall I think the score so far is fair - even if the US has controlled more, they aren't shutting things down like expected.
Thank you: I sometimes missed some action while typing here. Who was the US player who hit her? Looks like Mewis (and for sure being hit on the head by Mewis can be a problem! ). It looked completely involuntary, but I anyway feel for Losada.
US GK makes poor risk decisions. When ever she leaves the box the other team usually scores, and she has a tendency to leave the box often being the defenders are weak. Spain takes advantage of this and they can win, if not i'm sure France will.
Spain has figured out Morgan doesn’t like contact, so they knock her down. Her game is in the open field. Lloyd, on the other hand, feeds off contact.
One of the things that willy be interesting is if Spain tires in the second half. The USA never tires.
It was totally accident, they were both blinders on the ball...most of the actions in this match so far have been unintentional....you got 2 teams playing their hardest with full commitment and concentration. Been quite exciting, and i'm glad we got a good match this R16, specially compared to yesterday's games
Morgan is getting the hack-a-Shaq treatment, and the ref is allowing it. I don't think Morgan has won a single foul, despite being wrecked at least six times.
46' 1-1 Heath fk from ~30m center, to 9m center, headed away. 47' 1-1 L.García(?) cross from 12m wide right to 10m center, O'Hara(?) volleys away. 48' 1-1 Rapinoe 1-v-1 on Corredera at 10m box left, Corredera clears to midfield (their) right touch. USA pass across circle back ...
50' 1-1 Heath and Lavelle ping a give-and-go. Heath slides for a ball at 32m mid-right, Torrecilla slides into her, Heath stays down. USA play on. 51' 1-1 Morgan gets upended by Paredes at arc top box left -- took right knee to her right hamstring? Stoppage ... Morgan resumes. 52' 1-1 O'Hara right throw-in at midfield, can't find a target. Long throw to Morgan coming back at circle top mid-right, she flicks centerward and goes down after a bump from Mapi León.
54' 1-1 Heath fk at 35m box right, to 13m center, headed away and cleared to circle back. Nahikari passes to L.García through circle right, she gets closed down at 16m mid-right, shot blocked over endline right and Naeher can't keep it in. 54' 1-1 Spain right ck, to right post, Naeher double-punches away. 55' 1-1 Lavelle spins ccw away from pressure at circle top right, passes to Heath at 15m box right. Heath touches to 11m box right, shoots just over crossbar center.