Canada (1-0-1, 3 pts. 0 goal diff.) plays Japan (1-0-1, 3 pts., +3 GD) in match 18 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA at 3:30 PM. One of these teams will get into the quarterfinals and the other goes home. A draw in Foxboro favours Japan due to their edge in goal diff. Canada must win to continue playing next Thursday in Portland. Germany (2-0-0, 6 pts., +6 GD) is already guaranteed a quarterfinal berth in Group C. With a win or draw against Argentina, Germany has first. Even with a loss Germany holds the edge over their rivals due to goal diff.
articles "Canada needs to rediscover winning form to get past Japan on Saturday" http://www.canada.com/sports/story.html?id=B3016532-D9D0-480A-9376-A804EDF8B94A "Go big or go home Canada must beat Japan to advance in World Cup play" http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/story.asp?id=8BA46E14-67A8-4C9B-A167-09991A1695D6 "Pressure gets to prodigy Coping with high expectations is as difficult as learning the game for Lang" http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030926/SLANG26/TPSports/Other "Time to show the world Canada has to play up to their potential to advance past Japan tomorrow" http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/WorldCup/Women/2003/09/26/210114.html
canada's starting eleven .. Latham Neil Nonen Morneau Hooper Sinclair Matheson Lang Timko Dennis Swiatek swiatek playing instead of leblanc in nets, and veteran morneau makes her WWC'03 debut ... odd (wo)man out is kiss, who started the last 2 games ... morneau will no doubt play the left back which allows timko to move back into the midfield. can't wait for this game to start in a few! elaine
Canada up 2-1 in the 2nd half. ESPN had some coverage, but for some reason, they go back to the 4-0 Germany shellacking of Argentina. Sinclair and Latham with 2 Canada goals, Sawa for Japan. Japan just looked to get the equalizer, but they called it offsides, it was a close call, not sure if she was offsides. It's a good game, wish ESPN was showing it though.
FT Canada 3 Japan 1 Canada into the quarter-finals while Japan are going home. 1. Germany 9 pts, +11, 13 goals 2. Canada 6 pts, +2, 7 goals 3. Japan 3 pts, +1, 7 goals 4. Argentina 0 pts, -14, 1 goal
good game for canada to build upon ... they did not play their best, but much better than the last 2 games, and got the job done. i personally felt morneau played EXCELLENT at left back and her presence really helped our defense ... with izzy back there, timko went back to midfield and her difference in the middle of the park was evident too. lang got the scoring monkey (gorilla!) off her back ... hopefully this is just the start of some good play from canada in the quarters elaine
"FT Canada 3 Japan 1 Canada into the quarter-finals while Japan are going home." The place'll be rocking because it's Saturday night. I feel sorry for the Japanese though. I like the way they attack and pass the ball and Sawa is a delight to watch. But Canada pull through. Great goal by Lang. Some good saves by Swiatek.
The game would certainly have been different if (1st half) Kobayashi took the shot sooner than holding the ball and then missing the bent shot away from the far post and (2nd half) Otani's goal wasn't called off because she was (slightly) offsides. Nevertheless, good effort by Japan and congrats Canada on advancing to the quarter-finals.
Can anybody tell me why the hell they televised the Germany-Argentina game instead of this one? As soon as the draw was made, it appeared this would be the crucial match of the group and the GER-ARG game was an obvious no-contest. The games were played at the same time even. This sounded like a cracker of a match, too bad most of us were stuck watching a blowout instead.
Karina got shelled in the match with Germany (not entirely her fault). Pellerud made a change for Game 2 and stuck with it for the third game. In the 74th minute Swiatek made a save on the goal line to catch a well-struck ball destined for the far corner. Pellerud said in the press conference that "no other 'keeper in the world could have saved it." I'd expect to see Swiatek in goal for the q-final. That shot in the 35th minute should have been in the back of the net. This was followed about a minute later by Latham's left-footed poke to even the match. Essentially a two-goal swing that really disheartened the Japanese players.
A gutsy game and a well deserved win. I find interesting that Taryn who was ranked the number three keeper has proven so far to be the number one. She had some incredible saves and she continued to be all business. Obviously the girls got their mental attitude out of conflict. A different set of players using some who have more experience made a difference. Good substitutions too, except for Rhian who did not appear to get into the groove. I would have sent in Carmelina instead. Watching the game in Galavision I found interesting that the color commentators kept wondering why so many up in the air passes when some occassions cried for a pass on the ground. I conclude that the Canadian style is just not what Latin people is used to see as typical soccer. So who do we play next?
By "we", I assume you mean Canada. Y'all will have to watch the Group D matches tomorrow. It could be China, Russia, or even Australia. What matters is that the members of the Canadian WNT are traveling west to Portland, not north (home).
Unfortunately, Carmelina is not match fit and shouldn't be on the roster at all. The Canadian "style" is not what anybody is used to seeing as typical soccer. It's more an absence of style than anything else.
Actually it's the winner of the Group D in which China or Russia have a chance to take. Australia's best chance is to finish second in order to make it to the quarter-finals.
I agree not their best game, but an improvement. Canada needs Morneau on because we need Timko in the mid-field. She plays all out. Not impressed with Matheson's first half. On several occasions she had time and just blasted the ball up field usually to a player in blue. She had a much better second half. Hoops had a great game.
Fifa's write up....... http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/030927/1/afc.html Globe and Mail http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030927.wsowome0927/BNStory/Sports/ Canada.com http://www.canada.com/sports/story.html?id=51DA7E15-FBC7-42AC-B33D-FC154CCCCE82
DIdn't get to see it, but I happy to hear that Lang and Sinclair played more like themselves. Also, very happy to see Morneau put on our D line and Timko pushed up into mid.
Much better effort by Canada. Did anyone else see this? PASSES?!?! Wow... there's a concept! Pellerud finally got his head out of his a$$ and put Morneau on the field and Timco mid. The difference was like night and day! Sinclair still played like $hit! Walkin' her a$$ in front when the ball is 2 feet away from her. I almost pulled my hair out! GET HER OUT! Good goin' though I don't think they'll make it through against China! Prove me wrong Canada!
Article on Timko... http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/story.asp?id=53E1A1F4-B56E-45E2-AE2C-57707D1F4286