I find it amazing that so many "good" strikers fail to keep the ball down on so many shots. If you don't hit the goal you cannot score!
HT 1-1. Avista (local power company) subs in a new transformer! Took only 45 minutes, pretty fast. 54' 1-1 Iwabuchi turns upfield at 35m mid-left, dribbles 1-v-4, turns van der Gragt twice but never gets past her, finally she touches it too far and Groenen slide-hooks ball away. This Italian pbp calls her "groo-nen", boo (correct is "hroo-nen") 55' 1-1 Miura chest-bumps Groenen down at circle back, foul. 56' 1-1 van Dongen long cross from 27m wide left to 9m 6-right, it drops over Ichise(?)'s head and bounces untouched, up into van de Sanden's right arm? She wasn't expecting it.
The match is VERY spread out vertically right now. While that would seem to favor the Dutch in this case I think it is more to Japan's favor.
57' 1-1 Iwabuchi creeps to arc top left, 1-v-1 on Bloodworth. Square pass right to Sugita(?), she taps right to Sugasawa to arc tangent left, with a clear lane up centerline. Sugasawa shoots long, medium power high over bar. 60' 1-1 Nakajima spins to 17m mid-right, fends off Bloodworth(?) with right forearm, underhits a left outstep pass to arc left, intercepted.
IT'S TIED! Another lovely combination from Japan leads to a clinical Hasegawa finish, and it's 1-1. #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/5ngexRcKrq— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 25, 2019
62' 1-1 Miedema drags ball amidst 4 through arc tangent left, finally rolls a pass through 15m center for van de Sanden, but she's momentarily wrong-footed and can't pounce. Netherlands cross to 9m right post, van de Sanden comes back and heads a bloop to 3m 1/5 right, it bounces to Yamashita. 63' 1-1 Sugasawa taps back to Nakajima, she cuts inside to 24m mid-left, shoots left instep bend over the high line down to 1/4 left low, van Veenendaal dives and blocks leftward.
That doesn't look good for Jackie Groenen. The right ankle took a bend just when the sliding Japanese midfielder went crashing into her. edit: It looks like she will give herself a go. I thought she would be out after that.
My 10 year old granddaughter just ran out of the room. She had a similar sprain a few weeks back and could not stand to see that. She is a chatterbox but she also has a high capacity for feeling other's pain. She's a natural empath.
Should this go to extra time I think Japan has the advantage. They seem to be moving better right now and the extra sub will help them more that it will the Dutch.
Sugasawa giving the ball away again... What are they waiting for to take her off? She's clearly knackered.
66' 1-1 Sameshima dribbles up to 27m box left, pass toward box top mid-left stopped by Groenen with a drag-back. Groenen passes long up wide right, Sameshima got back in time and intercepts. 67' 1-1 Groenen pokes ball away, Miura(?) slides through her legs, her knees trap Groenen's right ankle and bend it over her foot. Stoppage. 68' 1-1 Netherlands subs in (1 of 3) #21 Lineth Beerensteyn for #7 Shanice van de Sanden. 68' 1-1 Iwabuchi chest-traps through arc left, dribbles to 5m mid-left amidst 3. Backheel to Hasegawa at 10m mid-left, she touches to 8m 6-left and shoots right foot across mouth, just wide right low with van Veenendaal beaten. 72' 1-1 Japan subs in (1 of 3) #15 Yuka Momiki for #7 Emi Nakajima.