I am repeatedly frustrated with the fact that NWSL does not update the injury report on its website in a timely fashion. I do not know what the timing objective is, but I would expect to see an update at least 24 hours before a match. Now that gambling odds are being "published," I would think there would be more pressure on the league to be timely and consistent with posting injury reports.
Finally I can watch a match and participate in live chat. Now that my expectations are on the floor let's hope they can at least get a shot on goal.
Utah's starting XI: Almost showtime 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VNUM1YIMb1— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) July 8, 2020
Cruz starting almost makes me wish that I was in time to change my prediction into a Utah win! But I predicted a draw and so draw it be! They started.
If the Reign continue to play as slowly as they started they are liable to give up four or five goals. They should thank A-Rod for poor decisions and a lack of ability to get the final shot or pass off. She runs fast and then cannot deliver the final ball at all.
That article that claimed Benstiti was trying to play possession soccer was being generous at best. There's trying to play possession and then there's whatever is happening right now which is a hot mess.
The Reign are aimlessly passing around the back without a clue as to what to do as to attempt to get the ball forward. When the try to move forward more often than not they make a good pass to Utah. Utah is not even really pressing that hard. It is all the Reign conceding attack to Utah,
And Barnhart back in goal. Honestly, with Cox out there for OL Reign, I'm like, "Is it 2010 or 2020?"
They almost look overcoached to me...too tentative on what they should do. One podcast I was listening to was saying if you took this Reign roster and just said we're playing a 4-3-3 or whatever without any further coaching, they'd be playing better than they are right now. And I think I agree.
By the way it looks to me that Cox is quite free to roam on the Left-Side: OL should try to exploit that. OL is anyway too slow to achieve anything so far. To be clearer about my Shirley Cruz comment from above: you can see she still has the technique, but what she lacks is pace (and also decision-speed, I'd say). Don't get me wrong, she's been a great player, but I guess she peaked at her career about... maybe ten years ago?
If you are supposedly going to play "possession" soccer you must possess that ball. The Reign cannot seem to do that at all. They might be better off bunkering and trying to counter. Their possession game is NOT working at all.
I STILL think these matches could be enhanced by a good old fashioned bench clearing brawl. Wait, this isn't baseball, it is just almost as slow.
That "should" have been a yellow card for simulation. That kind of play is about the only way the Reign will score, by cheating.
Good assist from Cruz, but Spencer quite badly squanders by side-netting her shoot. The game is so boring that we don't even get @Gilmoy's play-by-play.
The only thing keeping this match 0-0 is the incompetence of Utah's forwards. So far every time, which have been several, they get into good position to attack they do something to screw it up.
For PbP to happen there needs to be something happening. So far it is the team that can't pass vs the team that can't shoot., EDIT: Reminds me of a Don Knotts movie.
Also, the FWs of the team that can't pass, Spencer in particular, don't seem too much competent to shoot either, if and when they get the chance...
0-0 at HT. Let's hope some subs in 2d Half can somehow shake the game a little. Only some individual brilliance, maybe, could change the script here.