Considering the last two USWNT threads have been two of our longer match ones in recent memory, might as well start a dedicated thread now. Steinhaus of Germany is the referee.
Though you'd hope with Steinhaus that it wont be..... Well, except for a bit of US bashing I'll probably partake in
I like Steinhaus. She is an excellent referee, plus, she took it in stride when Peter Niemeyer fondled her during a match.
That is a bad error in a game of this magnitude. That was a penalty. Japan has been the better team, slightly.
Definitely a missed penalty. My friends and I have starting drinking every time a goalie holds the ball for longer then 6 seconds . Fun times.
Steinhaus seemed to act like she had a good view -- no replay but it looked like she made a wave off and a get-up-and-play gesture. US look exhausted. Seems unlikely they will be able to keep up with Japan's pace in the second half. The last game took too much. This is not going to be a 1-0 result.
Well, that was an opportunity for all our Canadian brethren to see that we're not all US homers. 100%, stone cold penalty. If only they were all that easy. Wow.
Chastain trying to explain why Abby was called for a foul for kicking the Japanese defender in the face: "Referees don't like anything coming from behind".
I would have given the PK on the handling. We will have to see if any other similar handling situations (if they occur) will result in no call as well.